Several tremors today prompted frightened office workers to rush outdoors in the central Italian city L'Aquila, just days before it is scheduled to host a Group of Eight (G8) summit, dpa reported. No injuries were immediately reported, the ANSA news agency said. By mid-afternoon five tremors had been reported, including one of 4.1 magnitude whose epicentre was located by Italy's civil protection department just north east of L'Aquila. In April a 6.3 earthquake hit the L'Aquila area killing nearly 300 people and leaving around 60,000 homeless. Subsequently, Italy switched the G8 summit venue from the Sardinian island of La Maddalena to L'Aquila - a move Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said would bring funds to reconstruct the city. During the July 8-10 summit, leaders of the G8 - US, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Canada and Russia - will be housed in a police training school in the outskirts of L'Aquila. Italian authorities say the school is built to withstand almost any earthquake that might strike the area. However, by way of precaution, helicopters will be on standby to lift US President Barack Obama and other world leaders to safety.
