Italy earthquake: Before and after photos show devastating effect of 6.2 magnitude quake

Pictures showing the untouched streets of towns in central Italy before a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck on Wednesday show the sheer level of devastation suffered by the towns and their people.

At least 38 people have died after the earthquake destroyed parts of central Italy, causing extensive damage to the towns of Amatrice, Accumili di Rieti and Pecara del Tronto. Several hundred have been injured and thousands of people have been left in need of temporary housing.

“The town isn’t here anymore,” Sergio Pirozzi, the mayor of Amatrice.

He said there are still people trapped beneath the bricks and mortar in the town, and that “the aim right now is to save as many lives as possible”.

“There are voices under the rubble; we have to save the people there,” he told RAI.

The quake struck at 3.36 am local time and was felt across a broad swathe of the centre of the country, including Rome, where residents felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks.

One aftershock was recorded at 5.5 magnitude by the US Geological survey.

Rescue teams have been sent to the worst hit areas, and pictures from these efforts show people being pulled from the rubble, while their homes lay collapsed on the streets around them.

Entire homes have collapsed and many landmark buildings. In the town of Amatrice, the grand clock tower once centred in a long street of busy buildings and houses is seen standing in the centre of rubble.

Elsewhere in the town, a church is seen with its roof collapsed and surrounded by rubble, while in the town of Pescara del Tronto houses have collapsed causing new openings to roads.

As rescue efforts continue, Premier Matteo Renzi planned to head to the zone later on Wednesday and promised: "No family, no city, no hamlet will be left behind."