Earthquake strikes Tuscany, damaging buildings and sending people fleeing into the streets
by Ross Ibbetson For Mailonline- Earthquake struck near the Appennine mountains in Mugello at 4.37am
- Frightened people ran out into the street but no injuries were reported
- Epicentre was around 20 miles north of Florence near to the town of Scarperia
- It was strongly felt in regional capital and caused some damage in other towns
An earthquake has struck Tuscany north of Florence, damaging buildings and sending frightened people fleeing into the street in the middle of the night.
Mayors of towns in the area near the Appennine mountains known as Mugello said there were no injuries from the pre-dawn quake.
Regional governor Enrico Rossi said that there were problems with some buildings and Italian dailies posted pictures of cracks in the walls of the church of San Silvestro in the town of Barberino del Mugello, close to its epicentre.
The national geophysics agency said the strongest in a series of tremors was measured at magnitude 4.5 and struck at 4.37am local time. The epicentre was placed at 2.5 miles north of the town of Scarperia.
State railways said the high-speed train line between Florence and Bologna was temporarily closed as a precaution.
State radio said train services on the line later resumed.
Schools in towns near the epicentre were closed as a precaution while experts checked for structural safety.
Geologists noted that 100 years ago, a quake some 1,000 times more powerful struck the same area, killing 100 people.
