Civil Protection Department

Emilia earthquake: two reception areas set up

8.30 p.m. update

Fire national organizations of voluntary work and ten Regions and Autonomous Provinces are at work to provide assistance to the population affected by the event in Emilia-Romagna. Mobile columns of Prociv association and Molise Region have also reached the areas.

Over 6 thousand people have fled their houses following the 20 May event abd the foreshocks that, since last week, are affecting mainly the provinces of Modena, Ferrara and Mantova. Displaced families are sheltered in reception camps and structures - gyms, municipal structures - and hotels. 18 reception camps have been set up with 700 tents and about 4 thousand beds.

Safety checks. Over 1,800 safety checks have been carried out by teams of technicians of Emilia-Romagna Region and other regions, activated by the Civil Protection Department. Today, 45 teams with 97 technicians are at work.

Deployed forces. Over 2,500 men of operating structures are carryng out rescue and assistance activities as well as safety checks on buildings. Over 1,500 volunteers belonging to mobile columns of regions and autonomous provinces, national organizations and Italian Red Cross are working in the affected provinces.

The seismic sequence. The seismic activity goes on in the area: from today's 2 a.m. to 4 p.m., 54 shocks have been registered, none of them exceeding magnitude 3, with the exception of two episodes of 3,1 and 3,2 magnitude. At 8.18  p.s. a shock of magnitude 4 has been registered.

Information to the population. The Department's Contact Center will work also tomorrow, Monday 28 May, with extended shifts, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.. Information on the Department's actvities can be provided calling the toll free number 800 840 840.