ITALY : Quakes Topple Weakened Buildings

Three sharp earthquakes jolted quake-damaged central Italy, crumbling some medieval structures already weakened in last month’s temblors. Assisi’s famed St. Francis Basilica, heavily damaged by two earthquakes Sept. 26, appeared to weather the latest shaking without further harm. Other landmarks fared less well in the new quakes, which all hit within a six-minute period around noon. The largest of the quakes had a magnitude of 4.5, the Civil Defense Ministry said. Among the structures hit hard was the bell tower above City Hall in Foligno, an Umbrian town heavily damaged in the September quakes, which killed 10 people.