This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/24/world/europe/italy-earthquake-usgs.html

The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
6.2-Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Italy, Killing Several People 6.2-Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Italy, Killing at Least 10
(35 minutes later)
ROME — Strong earthquakes struck central Italy early Wednesday, killing several people, trapping many others under debris and setting off tremors that awakened sleeping residents in Rome nearly 100 miles to the southwest. ROME — Strong earthquakes struck central Italy early Wednesday, killing at least 10 people, trapping many others under debris and setting off tremors that awakened residents in Rome nearly 100 miles to the southwest.
The first, a 6.2-magnitude earthquake, struck at 3:36 a.m. near the town of Accumoli, in the province of Rieti. The first, a 6.2-magnitude earthquake, struck at 3:36 a.m. near the town of Accumoli, in the province of Rieti, which the Civil Protection Department identified as among the hardest hit, along with the nearby towns of Amatrice and Arquata del Tronto.
The mayor of Accumoli, Stefano Petrucci, reported that six people had been killed there. And at least two people were reported to have been killed in Pescara del Tronto in the province of Ascoli Piceno, according to the authorities. The mayor of Accumoli, Stefano Petrucci, reported that six people had been killed there, the news agency ANSA reported at least two dead in Amatrice, and at least two more were said to have been killed in Pescara del Tronto in the province of Ascoli Piceno. The death toll was expected to rise.
Severe damage was reported in Amatrice, where Mayor Sergio Pirozzi said, “Half the town no longer exists.” More than 39 strong earthquakes were reported over a three-hour period, officials said, and rescue teams and volunteers from around Italy were on the way to the stricken areas to assist.
In Amatrice, Mayor Sergio Pirozzi said, “Half the town no longer exists.”
Mr. Pirozzi said that the number of victims was uncertain and that rescue teams were digging through the rubble of crumbled buildings, “hoping that most people were alive,” but he said that the historic center had been destroyed.Mr. Pirozzi said that the number of victims was uncertain and that rescue teams were digging through the rubble of crumbled buildings, “hoping that most people were alive,” but he said that the historic center had been destroyed.
“The problem is removing people from under the rubble,” he said. Asked how many people he thought were still trapped or dead underneath debris, he said, “many, many.”“The problem is removing people from under the rubble,” he said. Asked how many people he thought were still trapped or dead underneath debris, he said, “many, many.”
He added that Amatrice had been cut off because of damage to roads and a bridge, and he appealed during a live television broadcast for assistance.He added that Amatrice had been cut off because of damage to roads and a bridge, and he appealed during a live television broadcast for assistance.
CNN showed footage of construction equipment being used to try to comb through giant pieces of debris in Amatrice and of rescuers standing on huge piles of rubble where homes once stood, evidence of the enormous scale of the rescue effort.
“We need chain saws, shears to cut iron bars and jacks to remove beams,” a civil protection worker, Andrea Gentili, told The Associated Press. “Everything, we need everything.”
The paths of destruction led to other places, including the Tyrrhenian coast. A witness in Sperlonga, a popular seaside town in Lazio, said that the historic city center had been seriously damaged, and news channels showed photographs of crumbled buildings and rubble-covered cars.The paths of destruction led to other places, including the Tyrrhenian coast. A witness in Sperlonga, a popular seaside town in Lazio, said that the historic city center had been seriously damaged, and news channels showed photographs of crumbled buildings and rubble-covered cars.
The earthquake was felt from Rome to Bologna, in Emilia-Romagna, in a broad area pockmarked with dozens of small towns. Italian officials said it was difficult to gauge the number of casualties or the damage as the ground kept trembling through the night.The earthquake was felt from Rome to Bologna, in Emilia-Romagna, in a broad area pockmarked with dozens of small towns. Italian officials said it was difficult to gauge the number of casualties or the damage as the ground kept trembling through the night.
Fabrizio Curcio, the director of Italy’s Civil Protection Department, said that the earthquake had been severe and that national emergency procedures had been activated. Fabrizio Curcio, the director of the Civil Protection Department, said that the earthquake had been severe and that national emergency procedures had been activated.
Mr. Curcio said mayors in the affected areas were monitoring the damage to their areas.
“They know the territory best,” he said.
By early morning, rescue operations had been able to reach the most damaged towns, he said, adding, “We have to carry out an analysis of the territory and see if there are other places that have to be reached.”
On social media, there were many reports of friends or relatives being buried or trapped, and local residents said that the rescue effort was hindered by the fact that rescue teams were having difficulty getting to the mountainous area, where most towns are reachable only along winding country roads.On social media, there were many reports of friends or relatives being buried or trapped, and local residents said that the rescue effort was hindered by the fact that rescue teams were having difficulty getting to the mountainous area, where most towns are reachable only along winding country roads.
Facebook activated its safety check feature for the region, which allows users to mark themselves as safe and quickly alert friends and family after a crisis or a natural disaster.
In Norcia, dozens of residents wrapped in blankets greeted the dawn in the town’s main square. “Much of our patrimony is damaged, but there are no victims,” Mayor Nicola Alemanno told RaiNews24. “That is the good news.”In Norcia, dozens of residents wrapped in blankets greeted the dawn in the town’s main square. “Much of our patrimony is damaged, but there are no victims,” Mayor Nicola Alemanno told RaiNews24. “That is the good news.”
The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology reported that there had been nearly a dozen other earthquakes in the affected area over the course of about two hours. The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology reported that there had been nearly a dozen other earthquakes in the affected area over the course of about two hours. None was as strong as the 6.2 quake.
None was as strong as the 6.2 quake.
Katherine Selby, who is from Nottingham, England, was vacationing with her family in Campagnano di Roma, just outside Rome, when the wardrobe doors began “shaking like crazy,” she wrote on Twitter.Katherine Selby, who is from Nottingham, England, was vacationing with her family in Campagnano di Roma, just outside Rome, when the wardrobe doors began “shaking like crazy,” she wrote on Twitter.
It was frightening because it was unclear what was going on, she said, adding that she was anxiously waiting for the next aftershock.It was frightening because it was unclear what was going on, she said, adding that she was anxiously waiting for the next aftershock.
She said there was no damage.She said there was no damage.
The United States Geological Survey said the people in the region lived in structures that were a “mix of vulnerable and earthquake-resistant construction.”The United States Geological Survey said the people in the region lived in structures that were a “mix of vulnerable and earthquake-resistant construction.”
In 2009, a devastating earthquake in the Abruzzo region of central Italy killed more than 300 people and left about 65,000 homeless.In 2009, a devastating earthquake in the Abruzzo region of central Italy killed more than 300 people and left about 65,000 homeless.