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Operators keep a watch on aftermath of earthquake

Tuesday, 22 May 20123 min read

Operators are monitoring the situation following the Italian earthquake as the Italian government assess the scale of damage.

Italian specialist, The Italian Connection, based in Sussex, said the main problem at the moment was waiting to see if there are going to be any further tremors or quakes.

The operator said it had clients booked to go to Emilia Romagna in June which was the area worst affected by the earthquake.

But a spokeswoman says that the trip may have to be altered as sightseeing in this area with historic buildings in unlikely to be safe.

The Italian government is assessing the damage caused by the earthquake on Sunday which killed seven people and has said it expects to declare a state of emergency, reports the BBC.

Culture Minister Lorenzo Ornaghi says it is too early to give a full assessment of the damage from the quake but a list of heritage sites affected in the Emilia Romagna region is being drawn up. He said the cultural cost was "considerable".

Farmers say they have suffered big losses because of damage to 300,000 Parmesan and Gran Padano cheeses.

Prime minister Mario Monti said the state of emergency would enable the release of financial aid both to companies and individuals. "The government will not abandon Emilia," he said.

By Diane Evans