Atlanta 5/31/2012 3:23:05 AM
News / World

Italy Earthquake Death Toll Rises To 17

Italian officials say the death toll in Tuesday’s earthquake is now at 17. Rescuers pulled the latest victim from the rubble of a factory building in Medolla where three other people died. The death toll is not expected to rise as no one else has been reported missing.

The government will now focus on rebuilding structures damaged or destroyed in the earthquake. An investigation has also been launched into why most of the affected buildings were factories.

The 5.8 magnitude earthquake rocked northern and central Italy Tuesday morning. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the epicenter was located in Modena province about 25 miles northwest of Bologna. Around 40 aftershocks, some with a magnitude above 5.0, followed the 9 a.m. tremor. The towns of Cavezzo, Mirandola, Medolla, San Felice sul Panaro, Concordia and Finale Emilia sustained the most damage.  

Tuesday’s tremor came just 9 days after a powerful 6.0 tremor killed 7 people in the area.

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