A second earthquake, this time measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale, has struck the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, just over a week since another 6.0-magnitude quake caused widespread damage to buildings and commercial premises.
The epicentre of the new quake, which was followed by numerous aftershocks and three further tremors each with a magnitude over 5.0, was in Carpi, close to Modena and just over 40km from the centre of last week's seismic activity in Finale Emilia.
In an area already described by some commentators as 'on its knees' following the previous earthquake, workers in Medolla, Mirandola, San Felice sul Panaro and Finale Emilia itself were reportedly trapped under the rubble of fallen buildings.
Early reports indicate that around 10 people have lost their lives as a result of the new quake, which was apparently felt as far as Austria.
Concerns have also been raised in the south of Italy, where according to the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology a number of tremors in Calabria and Basilicata registered as high as 4.3 on the Richter scale during the early hours of Tuesday (29 May) morning.
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