For the second time in just over a week, a powerful earthquake has rocked northern Italy, bringing down buildings weakened by the previous quake.

15 people have died in the most recent quake, a 5.8 shaker that struck at 3 seconds after 9 am at the epicenter. The earthquake struck from 5.69 miles beneath the surface. This newest quake occured 2 miles south southeast of the town of Medolla and 7 miles north northwest of Crevalore.

The country of Italy has 20 regions, the quake struck in the region with the fourth largest gross domestic product. The area is rich in farmlands and is the area that produces much of the nation’s exports. The area also houses the Ducati motorcycle plant, ferrari, and the country’s largest pasta maker, Barilla.

This will no doubt have an effect on the country that has had the slowest growing economy in Europe for the last decade.

Premier Mario Monti told his country in a news conference that the government will do “all that it must and all that is possible in the briefest period to guarantee the resumption of normal life in this area that is so special, so important and so productive for Italy.”

The quake brought down many of the warehouses weakened by the earlier quake. The buildings had been inspected and deemed safe after the 6.0 shaker that killed seven people nine days ago. This most recent catastrophe took more lives, a reflection of the time of day the crisis struck. On this occasion, people were already at work.

“The fact that workers are again dying in these new shocks makes me think that factories were not rendered safe before sending people back to work,” said Susanna Camusso, head of the CGIL union.

Although it is inconclusive, many of the local residents are questioning whether the increased gas drilling in the region contributed to the catastrophic event.

Dozens of aftershocks have occured and five of them have been above four in magnitude.

The quake was felt in Milan, Genoa, Vento, Trentino and as far away as Austria.