Italy earthquake: Powerful tremor believed to be strongest to hit country in 30 years – as it happened
Region already reeling from two tremors in past week
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- Powerful earthquake hits central and southern Italy
- 6.6 magnitude quake may be strongest to hit country since 1980
- Reports say it struck at depth of just 10km
- No casualties have been reported yet
- Region already reeling from two tremors in past week
- Quake felt as far away as Rome and also in Croatia
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A powerful 6.6 magnitude earthquake has hit the same area of central and southern Italy struck by a quake in August and a pair of aftershocks last week
It destroyed already damaged buildings after a week of quakes that have left thousands homeless. There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths.
Residents already rattled by a constant trembling of the earth rushed into piazzas and streets after being roused from bed by Sunday's 7:40am quake.
Many people still had been sleeping in cars or evacuated to shelters or hotels in other areas after a pair of strong jolts last Wednesday.
The quake was felt throughout the Italian peninsula, with reports as far north as Bolzano and as far south as Bari. Residents rushed into the streets in Rome, where ancient palazzi shook, swayed and lurched for a prolonged spell.
The German Research Centre for Geosciences put the magnitude at 6.5 and said it had a depth of 10 kilometers, a relatively shallow quake near the surface but in the norm for the quake-prone Apennine Mountain region.
Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has vowed Italy will rebuild the homes, churches and other structures destroyed in the country's latest earthquake.
He said the financial resources will be found to restore essential elements of the national identity.
Mr Renzi told a news conference: "We will rebuild everything — the houses, the churches, the shops. We are dealing [with] marvelous territories, territories of beauty."
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