20 May 2012 earthquake

At 4.04 a.m. of 20 May 2012, a 5,9 magnitude earthquake hit territories of the northern area of Italy, causing the death of seven people: five for direct consequences triggered by the seismic events and two for concomitant causes.

The earthquake affects mainly the municipalities of Modena and Ferrara provinces, and, to a lesser extent, the ones of Bologna and Mantova. Based on Ingv registrations, the epicentre of the main shock is localized mainly among the municipalities of Finale Emilia and San Felice sul Panaro in the province of Modena, and Sermide in the province of Mantova.

Municipalities affected by the event are classified in zone 3 (low dangerousness) according to the resolution no. 1435 of 21 July 2003 of the Regional Council of Emilia Romagna.

Information arriving from the territory report that most of the houses are undamaged. Damages were mainly registered on worship buildings, cultural heritage and industrial warehouses.
Due to the importance of the event, the President of the Council of Ministers issued the declaration of the exceptional risk that might compromise primary assets, based on no. 286 law of 27 December 2002 and in prevision of the upcoming declaration of emergency.

On 22 May the Council of Ministers declared the state of emergency for the provinces of Ferrara, Modena, Mantova and Bologna with a duration of 60 days. The state of emergency is declared according to decree n. 59 del 30 aprile 2012 che modifica la legge n. 225 del 24 febbraio 1992, istitutiva del Servizio Nazionale.
The Head of the Civil Protection Department manages the interventions. At the end of the state of emergency, coordination will be taken over by Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy Regions, each for their respective territories.

On 22 May 2012 the Head of the Civil Protection Department Franco Gabrielli has signed the ordinance for the first urgent interventions of civil protection: rescue, assistance to the population and necessary interventions for people affected by the quake.