Quake destroys buildings,other structures in central Italy, at least 10 believed killed

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The quake struck just after 3:30 a.m. and was felt across a broad section of central Italy, including the capital Rome where people in homes in the historic center felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks.

 

The earthquake brought down buildings in mountainous central Italy early on Wednesday, trapping residents and sending others fleeing into the streets, with at least 10 people believed killed.

 

The worst affected towns were believed to be Accumoli, Amatrice, Posta and Arquata del Tronto.

 

"Now that daylight has come, we see that the situation is even more dreadful than we feared with buildings collapsed, people trapped under the rubble and no sound of life," said Accumoli mayor Stefano Petrucci.

 

Earlier, Petrucci told RAI state broadcaster that a family of four had been buried when their house collapsed, adding that there was no indication they had survived.

 

RAI quoted police as saying two people were known to have died in the nearby village of Pescara del Tronto. Two bodies were removed from the debris in the small town of Amatrice.

 

"Three quarters of the town is not there anymore," Amatrice mayor Sergio Pirozzi told RAI. "The aim now is to save as many lives as possible. There are voices under the rubble, we have to save the people there."

 

A Reuters reporter said the town's hospital had been badly damaged by the quake, with patients moved into the streets.

 

 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 major tourist site.

 

Mayor Nicola Alemanno said no deaths had been reported in Norcia. "The anti-seismic structures of the town have held. There is damage to the historic heritage and buildings, but we do not have any serious injuries," he told RAI.