2009 L'Aquila earthquake region saw dozens of significant aftershocks following the main earthquake. The strongest, which hit at 19:47 CEST on 7 April, measured magnitude 5.3 and caused further damage. According to the Italian National Geophysics Institute director Boschi, the aftershock epicentres migrated south-east, thus lessening the risk of further major shocks near populated areas. Aftershocks caused safety problems for rescue crews searching for injured victims trapped in precarious structures in the historic center of L'Aquila, a medieval city. Using cranes and backhoes to remove loose bricks and broken timbers, the crews were aware that even a small aftershock could have triggered the
Alliance of the Centre Alliance of the Centre Alliance of the Centre (, AdC), whose full name was Alliance of the Centre for Freedom (), was a Christian-democratic political party in Italy. It was founded in November 2008 by splinters from the Union of the Centre (UdC) who wanted to return to an alliance with Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right coalition and support his fourth government. Its leader was Francesco Pionati, deputy and formerly spokesman of the UdC. At the 2009 European Parliament election AdC was part of The Autonomy, an electoral coalition including The Right, the Movement for the Autonomies and the Pensioners' Party, which