Minor injuries, damage in Umbria quake
Tremors in central Italy measured 4.2 on Richter scale
15 December, 18:29
(ANSA) - Perugia, December 15 - Two people
suffered minor injuries during an earthquake measuring 4.2 on
the Richter scale that struck Tuesday south of the central
Italian city of Perugia.The National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology reported the epicenter was 9 km below the surface near the Umbrian town of Spina sending cracks up the walls of local houses.
The civil protection service reported collapsed chimneys and building ledges in addition to scattered gas leaks, but that the damage was by and large superficial.
Two people, one Italian and one foreign, were taken to the hospital with a sprained ankle and broken rib suffered while fleeing their homes.
Umbria regional counselor Vincenzo Riommi confirmed that "strong tremors were also felt in Perugia, where people rushed out of buildings and into the streets".
Crowds reportedly milled in open spaces for several hours, before civil protection officers told them it was safe to go back inside.
Riommi added that residents closest to the epicenter were "understandably reluctant" to return to their homes, and that local authorities were considering setting up a temporary refuge for the night.
The tremors are among the strongest to rattle Italy since since April 6, when a quake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale killed 299 people in Abruzzo and left more than 50,000 homeless.
Photo: Spina
