Over 200 aftershocks follow quakes (2)

(ANSA) - Rome, October 27 - 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.