Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2012/may/20/italian-earthquake-four-dead-video

"A strong earthquake hit northern Italy in the early hours of Sunday morning, killing at least four, injuring more than 50 and reducing historic churches and castle towers to rubble. The epicentre of the magnitude-6.0 quake was north of Bologna in the Emilia-Romagna region, but its effects were felt across northern Italy, from Liguria to the Veneto"

There's definitely been a lot of serious earthquakes and the like recently - either people are living more in these earthquake-prone areas (increasing the hazard), or the Earth is just very restless for whatever reason. Nonetheless, it's a very sad event. Edit: 6 confirmed deaths now

Update: Another earthquake has struck the same region today: http://news.lalate.com/2012/05/29/italy-earthquake-today-2012-strikes-bologna-milan/

"LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – A strong Italy earthquake today 2012 has struck Bologna, Milan, and Florence. The Italy earthquake today May 29, 2012 struck close the deadly earthquake that erupted in the northern section of the country, just days ago. Initial news reports indicate that ten persons have diedtoday and dozens are injured.

The Italy earthquake today could be felt from Milan to Rome. The Bologna neighboring Italy tremoto struck at 12:56 PM local time, USGS reports to news. The quake had virtually no depth. The magnitude 5.6 quake struck only six miles below the earth’s surface. As a result, the quake could be felt across the region."

minor earthquakes are quite common in Italy, but major ones are rare

10 are confirmed dead as another earthquake (estimated magnitude 5.6) hits the same region.

Historically Italy has been a hotbed of seismic activity. Some of the worst earthquakes and definitely some of the most destructive volcanoes have been in Italy.