At least 200 aftershocks
followed the first of two big earthquakes to hit central Italy
on Wednesday, the National Institute of Geophysics (INGV) said
Thursday.
The first 5.4 magnitude quake struck at 19:10 Italian time
and was followed by an even bigger one, of magnitude 5.9, at
21:18. But there were at least 200 aftershocks too.
"There are 105 registered after 2:00 in the morning (on
Thursday) alone," INGV seismologist Alessandro Amato told ANSA.
"Overall, there were 30 aftershocks of magnitude 3.0 or
higher".
Three were above magnitude 4.0, all in the area of the
Marche city of Macerata.
Wednesday's quakes caused major damage but, apart from a
73-year-old man who died of a heart attack, there are no reports
so far of fatalities. The fact that many people left their homes
after the first big quake, and so were outside when the second
struck, may have saved lives.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA