Quake in Italy Kills 4

Posted May 20th, 2012 at 7:50 am (UTC-5)
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A 6.0-magnitude earthquake has rattled northern Italy, killing at least four people, injuring dozens and damaging buildings.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake was centered about 35 kilometers north-northwest of the city of Bologna at a depth of 5 kilometers.

It struck about 4 a.m. local time Sunday, sending panic-stricken residents running into the streets.

Three people died when a ceramics factory collapsed in the town of Sant'Agostino. Another person died in Ponte Rodoni do Bondeno, just northwest of Ferrara.

The quake was followed by a series of aftershocks. The largest was a 5.1-magnitude aftershock about an hour later.

Streets were filled with debris and people in the early hours Sunday, as locals assessed the damage of their homes and businesses. Some old church steeples and towers had also collapsed.