3:36am local time central Italy was impacted by a 6.2 magnitude earthquake which has claimed several lives. Many older and historic buildings have been heavily damaged. Dawn brings national Italian rescue efforts.
(Reuters News Agency) A strong earthquake brought down buildings in mountainous central Italy early on Wednesday, trapping residents and sending others fleeing into the streets, with at least six people believed killed.
Daylight video shows damage in central Italy town of Amatrice after 6.2-magnitude earthquake https://t.co/Nk6SDdpEPQhttps://t.co/4JGxE7FCdt
— ABC News (@ABC) August 24, 2016
The quake caused serious damage to a number of towns and villages but did not seem to have hit heavily populated areas.
The worst hit towns were believed to be Accumoli, Amatrice, Posta and Arquata del Tronto, spokesman for the Italian fire department Luca Cari told Reuters. Helicopters would be sent up at first light to assess the damage, he said.
The mayor of Accumoli said a number of buildings had been badly damaged.
“Four people are under the rubble, but they are not showing any sign of life. Two parents and two children,” Mayor Stefano Petrucci told RAI television.
RAI quoted police as saying two people were known to have died in the nearby village of Pescara del Tronto.
The mayor of the small town of Amatrice reported extensive damage.
“Half the town is gone,” Sergio Pirozzi told RAI. “There are people under the rubble… There’s been a landslide and a bridge might collapse.”
The earthquake caused damage to towns in three regions – Umbria, Lazio and Marche.
The U.S. Geological Survey, which measured the quake at 6.2 magnitude, said it struck near the Umbrian city of Norcia, which has a picturesque historic centre and is a popular tourist site. (read more)
Family-of-four among the six killed after 6.2-magnitude quake rocks Italy https://t.co/jRG02n5HQN pic.twitter.com/4ljMbVQ6Ox
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) August 24, 2016
#BREAKING At least 6 killed in magnitude 6.2 earthquake in central Italy, reports say https://t.co/GgeiCOUX1G
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) August 24, 2016
Two bodies have been pulled from the rubble after quake strikes Rome and central Italy https://t.co/JgD34RQgVn pic.twitter.com/PMO9vnRkXe
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) August 24, 2016
Photo shows rescuers search a crumbled building in Arcuata del Tronto, in central Italy, after 6.2-magnitude quake. pic.twitter.com/QqlLKEdQPv
— ABC News (@ABC) August 24, 2016
At least 6 dead, extensive damage in 6.2 magnitude earthquake in central #Italy https://t.co/9bF7SZXvhm pic.twitter.com/lUGT3Ma4hR
— Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) August 24, 2016
Italy Earthquake Damage: pic.twitter.com/BvF1CGjrFz
— News This Second (@NewsThisSecond) August 24, 2016
