ROME, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Some 40 people were put under investigation for the collapse of industrial structures that killed 11 people when two powerful earthquakes struck central Italy last May, local reports said on Monday.

The investigated, including some owners and designers of the structures that proved unable to withstand the earthquake, were charged with manslaughter, culpable disaster and damage, according to ANSA news agency.

Nine workers, an entrepreneur and an engineer were killed by the collapse of industrial sheds in four small towns located within 10 km of each other in the central region of Emilia Romagna.

The May 20 and May 29 earthquakes, which registered a magnitude of 5.9 and 5.8 on the Richter scale respectively, claimed a total of 27 lives, leaving hundreds injured and thousands homeless.

As aftershocks continued after the powerful twin shakes, experts from Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology predicted there would be more such occurrences in the highly seismic country. Enditem

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