Italy was hit by yet another earthquake. This one, although resulting in only injuries and not deaths, destroyed a medieval church in the town of Norcia. The magnitude of the earthquake was 6.6 on the Richter scale. This earthquake follows the one in August, where at least 300 people were killed.

Aftershocks from the August earthquake are still continuing and, according to BBC, evacuations as a result of these aftershocks are thought to have prevented deaths from occurring, At the moment, only 20 people were reported to be injured. One of the greatest casualties of the earthquakes was the destruction of buildings, particularly ancient ones. These buildings, having been built without the necessary support structures, face a greater risk of collapse when an earthquake hits. The medieval church in Norcia, known as the Basilica of St. Benedict, was almost completely destroyed. According to the BBC, only its façade remained standing. The town's deputy mayor said that "It was like a bomb went off." inside the basilica. As earthquakes in Italy appear to grow increasingly more frequent, Italy's ancient sites are at a greater risk. Home of the Romans, the Renaissance, and other important moments in human history, Italy holds many relics of the time. Without the proper structural support, these relics could be lost in future earthquakes. They must be preserved and protected for future generations to enjoy.