A massive 6.3 magnitude earthquake rocked central Italy late Sunday night (U.S. time), killing at least 50 people and trapping many others in rubble.
The epicenter of the earthquake was about 53 miles northeast of Rome, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Residents in the village of l’Aquila, just east of Rome in the Abruzzo region, took to the streets as buildings around them were collapsing.
At least one students’ residence has been reduced to rubble and people are trapped inside.
A church bell tower has also collapsed. At this hour, people can be heard calling for help within the town.
UPDATE: Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, who arrived in L’Aquila just hours after the Italy earthquake, said at least 70 people had been killed and more than 1,500 had been injured. He added that the death toll was likely to increase as emergency personnel sifted through the debris left by fallen homes.
A Google Map showing the epicenter as well as a video can be found below:
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- Strong Earthquake Hits Central Italy (nytimes.com)
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