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6.2-Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Italy, Killing at Least 10 6.2-Magnitude Earthquake Rattles Italy, Killing Dozens
(about 2 hours later)
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. AMATRICE, Italy — Strong earthquakes struck a mountainous stretch of central Italy early Wednesday, killing at least 38 people, the Italian news media reported, trapping scores 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, which the Civil Protection Department identified as among the hardest hit, along with the nearby towns of Amatrice and Arquata del Tronto. The first, a 6.2-magnitude earthquake, struck at 3:36 a.m. near the town of Accumoli, 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, 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, and officials said roughly 40 strong earthquakes were reported over a three-hour period.
The death toll was expected to rise, with the Italian public broadcaster reporting that at least 24 people had been killed. 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.
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.
“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. Mr. Pirozzi added that Amatrice had been cut off because of damage to roads and a bridge, and in a live television broadcast, he appealed for assistance.
Rescue teams and volunteers raced to the stricken areas to assist.
Ambulances raced back and forth on one of the main roads to Amatrice, where a courtyard in a still-standing palazzo had been turned into an impromptu morgue.Ambulances raced back and forth on one of the main roads to Amatrice, where a courtyard in a still-standing palazzo had been turned into an impromptu morgue.
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.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.”“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.”
Pope Francis skipped the catechism lesson during his Wednesday general audience and led pilgrims in praying the rosary for the victims of earthquake.
Holding the beads in his right hand, the pope told the crowd at St. Peter’s Square that he was stunned by the devastation and that he wanted to express his sympathy for the victims.
Accumoli and Amatrice are in the northeastern tip of the Lazio region, which also includes Rome, while Arquata del Tronto and Pescara del Tronto are in the adjoining Marche region.
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 as far as 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 the 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. Mr. Curcio said mayors in the affected areas were monitoring the damage to their areas. “They know the territory best,” he said.
“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.”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.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. None was as strong as the 6.2 quake.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.
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.