We discuss the new causative source model for the 1908 Messina Straits earthquake recently proposed by Barreca et al. (2021), where an aseismic slip of 1.13 m along a low-angle discontinuity, preceding the 1908 earthquake, have mechanically destabilized a set of overlying faults, therefore leading them to the rupture. The lack of significant variations of the relative sea level in the Messina harbor area, in the time period relevant for the levelling data (1907–1908) analyzed by Barreca et al., and at least for the decade preceding the event proves the inconsistency of the assumed pre-earthquake aseismic slip. A careful interpretation of crustal earthquake distribution in the Strait does not support the presence of the low-angle discontinuity. The modelled horizontal coseismic pattern reveals a scenario that is not supported by any other independent geological and geophysical observation. We conclude that the source model proposed by Barreca et al. for the 1908 Messina Straits earthquake can not be considered as a viable hypothesis for the causative fault.

我们讨论了 Barreca 等人最近提出的 1908 年墨西拿海峡地震的新成因模型。（2021 年），在 1908 年地震之前，沿着低角度不连续性发生 1.13 m 的地震滑动，使一组上覆断层在机械上不稳定，从而导致它们破裂。在 Barreca 等人分析的与水准数据相关的时间段（1907-1908 年），至少在事件发生前的十年中，墨西拿港区的相对海平面没有显着变化，这证明了假设的震前地震滑动。对海峡地壳地震分布的仔细解释不支持低角度不连续性的存在。模拟的水平同震模式揭示了任何其他独立地质和地球物理观测都不支持的情景。我们得出结论，Barreca 等人提出的源模型。对于 1908 年墨西拿海峡地震，不能认为是致因断层的可行假设。