At least six killed as 6.1-magnitude quake rattles Rome, central Italy

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 struck early Wednesday morning. Severe damage was reported in the town of Amatrice, where the mayor said “half the town no longer exists.”

A strong earthquake struck central Italy early Wednesday, levelling buildings in several towns as residents slept. One mayor reported a family of four trapped under the debris without signs of life and another said simply: “The town isn’t here anymore.”

The magnitude 6.1 quake struck at 3.36 a.m. and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including the capital Rome where residents felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. First images of damage showed debris in the street and some collapsed buildings in towns and villages that dot much of the Umbrian countryside.

The hardest-hit towns were reported as Amatrice and Accumoli near Rieti, with residents running into the streets as aftershocks continued into the early morning hours. As daylight dawned, residents and civil protection workers began digging out with shovels and bulldozers as dazed residents huddled in the open streets.

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Source:The Hindu