ITALIAN EARTHQUAKE

Hope our friends in Italy are safe ?

You ok I M ?


Pictures and video here
http://www.itv.com/news/2012-05-20/earthquake-in-northern-italy-kills-four/

Earthquake in northern Italy kills four
- last updated Sun 20 May 2012
World Italy earthquake

A bell tower in Finale Emilia was destroyed by the quake. Photo: Reuters
An earthquake hit northwest Italy this morning, killing at least four people, injuring dozens more and destroying historic buildings across the region. The quake struck in the early hours of this morning, and killed three factory workers doing a nightshift and forced thousands of people on to the streets in their nightclothes.

Magnitude 6.0
Struck at 2:04 local time
Strongest to hit Italy in three years

A bell tower in Finale Emilia was destroyed by the quake. Credit: Reuters

The epicentre of the quake was in the planes near Modena, but tremors were felt as far west as Liguria, bordering France, and the Friuli region bordering Slovenia.

One man died after being hit by falling debris in a polyester factory, whilst two men working in a modern ceramics factory died after the roof of their building collapsed in Sant' Agostino.

Destroyed cars are seen in the rubble after an earthquake in Finale Emilia Credit: Reuters
The roof of the cathedral of Mirandola collapsed, and a 14th century castle in Estense was badly destroyed.

The tops of several of the smaller towers of the famous mediaeval castle, the town's biggest attraction, collapsed and there were fears that the main tower could crumble. Three of the town's churches were severely damaged.

"Our school children were to receive their first communion here this morning.
If it had happened then it would have been a disaster."
– PRIEST, MIRANDOLA CATHEDRAL

The quake left a large hole and gashes in the side of the Sant' Agostino town hall, which officials said was in danger of total collapse.


he Town Hall building on Sant' Agostino near Ferrara damaged today's earthquake Credit: Reuters
Gas was also leaking from several buildings in the town, and many people have been forced to leave their homes.

Two more people, including a German woman, are reported to have died after suffering heart attacks because of the quake, and several dozen people were injured.

"I am 83 and I have never felt anything like this"

– LINA GARDENGHI, A RESIDENT OF BONDENO,

A woman carries belongings from her home after the earthquake in Finale Emilia, Italy Credit: Reuters
Rescue workers are checking reports that other people were buried under rubble and were preparing to house those whose homes had been damaged or destroyed.

A series of strong aftershocks have also hit the area, the strongest measuring 5.1 and local mayors have ordered residents to stay in the open.

How devastating! It's Me, Doris Day, Lelacorb (I think you're in Italy), and whoever else I've forgotten who are in Italy, please check in and let us know you're okay! Our prayers to you.

I've pm'd I M but not heard from her yet.
Hope she's ok

Maybe electric power is affected ?

no
thanks, all right here, I was only out for some time

my area is a bit far from the epicenter, and we (apparently) are in a more safe zone

sadly we are in a big earthquake swarm
and we count by now 4 big earth tremors
and fear for the next hours


thanks girls

Stay safe it's me - we love you.

ohhhhh thank you Cindi!
don't worry, I'll sleep with an eye only tonight!

My prayers to all those affected by the earthquake in Italy.

I'm glad you are doing alright, It's me.
Please stay safe.

Glad you're ok Its Me. Isnt Lelacorb also in Italy? I believe that there are a few other forum buddies that live in Italy and I wish them all safety. My prayers to everyone affected by the earthquake.

I wonder if any damage was done to George's villas. If earthquakes are shallow, they can spread far.

no
guess not
this time too far from the epicenter for any damaging

but fear.... yes
guess yes for who was there!

Pleased to hear from you IM. I heard the tremors were from
Venice up to Milan and many people had to leave their homes,
so was concerned for you.
It's always a worry when one knows someone in an area
where there's trouble !

I understand
thanks for your concerning
hope now those shaking will end soon!

There has been another earthquake in Italy. Hope all our Italian locals (and their loved ones) are all ok.

New earthquake shakes northern Italy '10 dead'
Emergency services survey the damage following Tuesday's earthquake


A new earthquake has struck the Emilia region in northern Italy, killing at least 10 people and burying several others under rubble, local media say. All the deaths were in the Modena area. Three were killed when an industrial shed collapsed in Medolla. Three also died in San Felice, two in Mirandola and one in Cavezzo.

Tuesday's tremor, estimated at magnitude 5.8, hit the same region where a quake 10 days ago killed seven people and destroyed many buildings. Milan and Bologna were shaken too. Some people fled from buildings when they felt the tremor, which struck at 09:03 local time (07:03 GMT). There have been several aftershocks since, including a large one at about midday which sent people back out into the streets, says the BBC's Mark Dizzani in Modena.

Italian media report that some buildings damaged by the larger 20 May quake have now collapsed in Mirandola, Finale Emilia, San Felice and Cavezzo. That quake measured 6.0. Many historic buildings now lie in ruins in Cavezzo, where the roof of a church damaged by the earlier quake collapsed on Tuesday, Il Messaggero news website reports. Calls to emergency services have overloaded the telephone network in some areas, causing a system blackout. Train services have been halted in some parts of northern Italy. Office workers were evacuated in Bologna and there are reports of evacuations elsewhere too.

The quake struck 40km north of Bologna and 60km east of Parma, at a depth of 9.6km (six miles), Reuters reports. It was felt as far away as Venice, the Austrian border and Piedmont. Chris Brewerton, living in Mantua, told the BBC that Tuesday's quake appeared stronger than the one on 20 May. Mantua is 58km (36 miles) north of Modena. He described how "the chair starts shaking and there's a feeling of waves below me. I rush out into the garden; the shutters and garage door are banging, the ground below me swaying. It lasted about 15 seconds - it was frightening." A Londoner living in Modena, Christopher Gilbert, said he felt "a rolling earthquake lasting around 15 seconds - people were quite frightened. "I was having a coffee when the quake struck and felt a swaying motion so I clutched onto a bar in the cafe to steady myself. Schools and offices were evacuated," he told the BBC.

The 20 May quake destroyed many centuries-old buildings of cultural value. It was the worst to hit Italy since the L'Aquila tremor that killed nearly 300 people in 2009. About 7,000 people who fled that quake are still living in dozens of tented camps erected in public spaces, AFP news agency reports. There have been many tremors in the region since that quake.

Source

many more damaging
this time

and also some more victims
sadly

I'm fine
by now

hope the best to all ppl involved

ciao

Oh what a shame...glad you're alright I M,
I do feel for those in peril again.

It's me I'm glad too that you and our Italian posters are doing all right. I can't imagine the devastating feeling an earthquake would bring, to see your world crumble around you. My prayers to those who are affected.

thank you all
very much

I can relate to this situation. In 1976, there was a massive earthquake in Friuli Venezia-Giulia that nearly destroyed the entire region. Some of my relatives lost their houses, but no one was killed. They had to live in trailers until they could get new houses. It was a terrible time in their lives. One relative was six months pregnant at the time, and she had to stay in a tent for a time. But she was able to have her baby at a hospital when she was nine months along.

oh thanks
interesting and sweet thing!

I was in the one in the 80s in San Francisco...My heart goes out to all of you that are enduring this incredible pain and surreal existence...My prayers are with you all...

thank you very much!

well... tremors doesn't quit

and they also spread around

I many time think about ppl who have tornadoes in their area
it's equally frightening
don't knowing
if
and when or where

but at least
even if really fast
and maybe even more dangerous
you can see them


we can't

We are fortunate here in UK as we don't often get extremes....
except occasionally around our coastline !

Hoping everything settles down soon in the Italian regions
where they have such trouble.

thank you very much darling
but similat things happened around 1570
in the same area
and took
near to 9 MONTHS
to quit completely

with many high tremors
during this time

this is the 'historic' on which ppl base to make a prevision
but
actually
NO ONE CAN PREDICT
HOW HIGHT
AND HOW LONG
it will be

and bec of the so distant time
this area is not indicated as 'high probability' of such events

but indeed it just is
and many buildings are NOT so far built
earthquake-proof (sp?)