By Agencies

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At least 15 people have been killed and buildings have been damaged in northern Italy by an earthquake and a series of aftershocks just days after another serious tremor shook the region.

Officials said on Tuesday that several people were trapped under the rubble of houses and warehouses in the Emilia-Romagna region, where several building sites and workshops had just reopened after the previous quake.

The 5.8-magnitude quake at 9am local time (0700GMT) was felt across northern and central Italy, including in Milan. The area was hit by several large aftershocks, one of 5.6 magnitude.

The authorities said the quake struck at a depth of just kilometre with the epicentre in Emilia, north of Bologna, in Modena province.

Seven people died in the 6.0-magnitude quake on May 20.

Many buildings which were damaged in the previous earthquake collapsed creating scenes of panic as more and more people crowded the streets, too scared to stay inside.

Security officials said two of the people were killed in the town of San Felice sul Panaro, near Modena. Another fatality was at Mirandola, which is also in the province of Modena. Rescue workers were searching for survivors and helping the numerous injured.

The quake was felt across the whole of Italy, with people running into the streets as far away as Milan, Venice and Genoa. The quake was also felt in parts of neighbouring Austria.

Train services north of Bologna were disrupted.