Strong earthquake in Central Italy

6.2 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Central Italy

A strong earthquake has struck Italy on Wednesday near the city of Perugia.

Sputnik,

24 August, 2016

A strong 6.2 magnitude earthquake has struck Italy on Wednesday near the city of Perugia, the United States Geological Survey reported. Perugia is the capital of Umbria region in central Italy. The earthquake was felt in Rome.

Italian civil protection agency said it had reports of collapsed buildings after the quake, Reuters reported. The Mayor of Italian town of Amatrice told Rai TV that the earthquake had caused extensive damage, several people were trapped under rubble.

"The roads in and out of town are cut off. Half the town is gone," mayor Sergio Pirozzi said.

"There are people under the rubble… There's been a landslide and a bridge might collapse."

Two people were confirmed dead in the region of Marche. Also, the mayor of the town of Accumoli reported four people killed by the earthquake.

 

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2:16 PM - 24 Aug 2016

​Italian Prime Minister's spokesman reported on Twitter that the country's government is in touch with civil protection agency.

According to the Richter scale, magnitude 6.0-6.9 quakes are considered strong and can cause moderate damage to even earthquake-resistant structures.