Second quake in a week kills 15 in Italy | WPN World People News

At least 15 people were killed and many buildings damaged when a magnitude-6 quake hit northern Italy Tuesday, a week after a serious tremor shook the region leaving thousands of residents in panic.

Several people were still trapped under the rubble of houses and warehouses in the Emilia-Romagna region.

The region was still limping towards normal life after several residential building and business workshops were closed down after the previous quake on May 20 that killed seven people.

Media reports quoting officials said 15 people were confirmed dead. The epicentre of the Tuesday's quake was close to the city of Modena.

TV footage showed buildings shaking and many of them collapsing. Ambulances were seen rushing towards the quake hit zones as rescue workers were battling to remove rubble and pull out people trapped deep inside.

Reuters said business workshops and factories outside Cavezzo, a village about 30 km from Modena, suffered considerable damage.

Sports car maker Ferrari and motorcycle firm Ducati closed their plants in the region for safety reasons.

"The situation is one of great fear and uncertainty," Reuters quoted Salvatore Iannizzotto, provincial head for the Modena police, as saying.

"The population was becoming more relaxed and slowly moving back into their homes. They have now left their homes again."

Prime Minister Mario Monti appealed for calm in a hurriedly called news conference.

"I want to assure everyone that the state will do all that it must do, all that is possible to do, as fast as it can to guarantee the return to normality in a region so special, so important, so productive for Italy," he said.

Source: Europe News.Net