Second earthquake hits north Italy

At least 16 people are reported to have died following the second earthquake to strike Italy in two weeks.

The 5.8-magnitude tremor, which shook the Emilia Romagna region yesterday, left 350 people injured and seven people missing, and destroyed factories, warehouses and churches, and up to 70% of homes in Cavezzo.

Risk modeller EQECAT has revised its total loss estimates for the first earthquake and following yesterday’s aftershocks from €100m to between €300m and €700m.

Modelling specialist AIR Worldwide said insured losses were not expected to be significant.

AIR said: “Most of the significant damage seems to have been sustained by unreinforced masonry structures, which are characterised by their limited ability to resist earthquake lateral loads without cracking or suffering wall collapses.

“Depending on the level of earthquake-resistant design implemented in the local reinforced concrete structures, damage to beam-column connections, walls, and to other structural elements can be expected in this event.”

The tremor, which centred on the town of Mirandola, 25 miles north-west of Bologna, and was felt from Piedmont in northwest Italy to Venice in the northeast and as far away as Austria, follows the first 6.0-magnitude earthquake, which struck the same area and in seven people died on 20 May.

The Italian government said 8,000 people were left homeless, adding to the 6,000 already sleeping in tents and temporary accommodation following the first quake.