Severe earthquake strikes central Italy, at least two dead

Two people are reported dead in a 6.2 magnitude earthquake which struck central Italy in the early hours of Wednesday morning, while others are trapped under collapsed buildings.

The earthquake struck at 3.36 am 24th August 2016 in Norcia, a town south of Perugia, Umbria, at a very shallow 10 km depth, according to the USGC, and was followed by several severe aftershocks.

Photo by twitter.com/simonegianni

There are reports of collapsed buildings in Accumoli and Amatrice, towns in the Lazio province of Rieti.

"Half the town is gone, people are under the rubble," the mayor of Amatrice told RaiNews24. "Access roads are blocked."

Two people are reported dead in Pescara del Tronto, in the Marche region, east of the epicentre. They are said to be an elderly couple whose home collapsed.

The civil protection agency described the quake as "severe".

Strong tremors lasting about 20 seconds were also felt in Rome, and again about an hour later.

Map via USGC

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