North Italy hit by 5.2 Richter quake, hospital evacuated

ROME, Nov 25 (AFP) - An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter Scale shook northern Italy late Wednesday, causing damage and leading to the evacuation of a hospital in Salo on the shore of Lake Garda where the epicentre was located, firemen said.
The tremor, which occurred just before midnight (2259 GMT), was felt all over the north of Italy.
In Venice two men were slightly injured by falls caused by panic, the firemen said.
In Salo, where 200 firemen were called out, the hospital was evacuated as a precautionary measure and several buildings were damaged, national fire service chief Mario Morcone said.
In the country's economic capital Milan, many people rushed out into the streets but no damage was immediately apparent.

11/25/2004 01:06 GMT - AFP