Thousands of people in northern Italy woke up in tents and cars Monday morning, after a powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake killed seven people and devastated centuries-old cultural sites Sunday.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centered about 35 kilometers northwest of Bologna.
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The damaged clock tower of Finale Emilia, Italy, May 20, 2012. A magnitude 6 earthquake shook northern Italy early May 20, killing at least four people. (AP Photo/Gianfilippo Oggioni, Lapresse)
A man looks at the damage caused by a quake in Finale Emilia northern Italy, May 20. 2012. (AP Photo/Marco Vasini)
A woman and a man react right after an earthquake in Sant'Agostino, May 20. 2012. A magnitude-5.9 earthquake shook northern Italy toppling some buildings and delaying emergency services news reports said. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
A volunteer ropes off the area surrounding a collapsed building in Finale Emilia, northern Italy after a quake hit northern Italy May 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Marco Vasini)
A woman holds her head in despair in Finale Emilia northern Italy, May 20 2012. AP Photo/Marco Vasini
A civil protection volunteer walks past the damaged town hall building in St. Agostino, Italy, May 20, 2012. One of the strongest earthquakes to shake northern Italy rattled the region around Bologna, a magnitude-6.0 earthquake that killed at least four p
An elderly woman who had to leave her home is assisted in Finale Emilia northern Italy, May 20. 2012. (AP Photo/Marco Vasini)
The damaged town hall building in St' Agostino, Italy, May 20, 2012. A magnitude-5.9 earthquake shook northern Italy between Modena and Mantova, about 35 kilometers north-northwest of Bologna at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometers, the U.S. Ge
Earthquake Rocks Abruzzo Region of Italy (Photo Gallery)
It struck about 4 a.m. local time, sending panic-stricken residents running into the streets. A series of aftershocks followed.
Many of those residents said they are afraid to go back to their homes, fearing more aftershocks.
Civil protection crews are checking government buildings, schools, businesses, homes, churches and other cultural heritage sites to evaluate the scale of damage and costs of rebuilding.
The Italian Culture Ministry called the damage significant, with the quake turning historic buildings and churches into piles of rubble and dust.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has sent condolences to the victims. He plans to leave the NATO summit in the U.S. city of Chicago to return home early.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.