Earthquake shakes northern Italy Published duration 27 January 2012

image caption Wednesday's earthquake caused minor damage to this church, near Parma

Northern Italy has been hit by an earthquake of magnitude 5.3, the second tremor in the area this week.

Residents of Turin and Milan were among those who felt the earthquake, at 1553 local time (1453 GMT), though there are no reports of any damage.

The US Geological Survey says the epicentre was 36km (22 miles) southwest of Parma and 91km (56 miles) east of Genoa.

A magnitude 5.1 quake was felt nearby on Wednesday.

The USGS estimates that Friday's tremor occurred at a depth of 10km (6.2 miles).

Nearly 300 people were killed in April 2009 when a powerful earthquake hit the central Italian town of L'Aquila.