NU Online News Service, May 29, 2:43 p.m. EDT
Italy's northern Emilia Romagna region was hit by the second powerful earthquake in just over a week on Tuesday afternoon local time, as a 5.8 magnitude temblor caused 10 fatalities and damaged structures and historical landmarks.
The earthquake was centered in the Modena province about 200 miles north-northwest of Rome, but tremors could be felt as far north as Austria, reports AIR Worldwide.
Local media stated that almost three-quarters of homes in the town of Cavezzo had either collapsed or experienced damage. A factory in Mirandola collapsed, causing three of the confirmed deaths, along with a cathedral which had stood since the 15th century.
AIR engineers judged that most of the significant losses were sustained by unreinforced masonry structures.
Reuters reports that most companies only briefly halted operations.
The art and historical worlds, unfortunately, did not escape as easily. The Baroque cathedral in Carpi was damaged, and in Mantua, both the late-Renaissance Te Palace, which was filled with artworks, and the dome of St. Barbara's Basilica had collapsed.
The previous weekend's quake , a magnitude 6.3 temblor, caused an estimated $127 million in insured losses, according to catastrophe modeler Eqecat.
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