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Major Earthquake Hits Central Italy

At least 250 people have died after a massive earthquake – of magnitude 6.2 – struck central Italy in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Many people are still trapped under rubble. The quake hit approximately 76 km south east of the city of Perugia (in Umbria), a region popular with tourists… especially now during the European summer. By […]

By SAPeople
25-08-16 18:52
in Eish!

At least 250 people have died after a massive earthquake – of magnitude 6.2 – struck central Italy in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Many people are still trapped under rubble.

Perugia Italy
The quake struck 76km south east of Perugia (pictured above).

The quake hit approximately 76 km south east of the city of Perugia (in Umbria), a region popular with tourists… especially now during the European summer.

By Wednesday evening Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi confirmed that at least 120 people were killed. By Thursday morning that figure had risen to at least 250.

The quake’s force was felt all the way from Bologna in the north to Naples in the south, with witnesses reporting that in Rome tremors were felt for at least 20 seconds. The worst hit regions were Umbria, Lazio and Marche.

With its epicentre around Accumoli, the village of Pescara del Tronto was reportedly flattened and “half the town” of Amatrice reduced to rubble. 

The mayor of Amatrice told reporters “The aim now is to save as many lives as possible. There are voices under the rubble, we have to save the people there.” He added that the death toll is likely to rise and that “we are preparing a place where we can put the bodies.”

Most people were asleep when it hit – at 03:36 – and woke up to the devastation. News agencies are reporting the rescue from rubble in Pescara del Tronto of two boys – aged four and seven – who were hiding under a bed in their grandmother’s house. Their aunt – who pushed them under the bed to save them – is still trapped beneath the rubble herself but is apparently responding to rescuers’ calls.

The mayor of Accumoli, a town of 635 people, said none of the houses in the town are habitable and that “we will need tents for the whole population”.

Pope Francis postponed a speech he was scheduled to deliver in St. Peter’s Square, to rather pray with the audience for the victims and survivors. He said: “Hearing the mayor of Amatrice say that the town no longer exists and hearing that there are children among the victims, I am deeply saddened.” 

Facebook has activated its Safety Check for anyone in the area.

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Updated 18:50 SA time, Thursday