Italy: Earthquake hits near Bologna

An earthquake has shaken parts of northern Italy, forcing some residents onto the streets.

The magnitude-4.8 quake struck at a depth of 15.5km (9.6 miles) 35km north of the city of Lucca, officials said.

The tremor was felt as far away as Milan and Florence, Italian media say. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

Italy is prone to earthquakes. In 2009 almost 300 people died in a quake in L'Aquila in the central Abruzzo region.

Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said the quake struck at 15:48 (14:48 GMT), with its epicentre in Garfagnana.

Several aftershocks of lower magnitude were felt across a large area.

In Milan, top floors of tall office blocks shook and the quake was also felt in the cities of Bologna and Modena.

In Lucca, people poured out into the streets, Italian news agency Ansa reports.

Last May, two earthquakes in northern Italy left more than 20 people dead. The strongest tremor was magnitude-6 and there was significant damage.