Moderate quake rattles nerves in central Italy

A moderate earthquake measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale shook the central Italian region of Tuscany, prompting scared residents to rush into the streets, geologists and reports said.

A moderate earthquake measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale shook the central Italian region of Tuscany on Tuesday, prompting scared residents to rush into the streets, geologists and reports said.

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The earthquake struck at 22:04 pm (0134 IST) and its epicentre was around 30 kilometres northeast of Florence, the Italian Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology said on its website.

No damage was immediately reported, according to ANSA news agency.

But several residents ran out of their homes while others hunkered down in their cars in the cities of Borgo San Lorenzo, Scarperia and Barberino, the report said.

The quake was felt in Florence and Bologna.