Central Italy was ravaged overnight by a destructive earthquake, which measured a powerful 6.2 on the Richter scale.
Reports on the number of casualties have varied, but so far it seems as though at least 11 people have been killed with the death toll set to rise further.
The Mayor of Amatrice, one of the worst areas affected, has said that “half of the town is gone.” The town of Accumoli, near Perugia, was also affected particularly badly. Shocks could be felt in the capital Rome, roughly 100 miles away from the epicentre.
Reports from Associated Press suggest that a family a four was trapped beneath fallen debris without any signs of life.
BREAKING: Mayor of quake-hit Italian town of Accumoli says family of four trapped under debris without any signs of life.
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 24, 2016
Two more people are believed to have died in the village of Pescara del Tronto.
Pictures from Armatrice, posted to social media, show the devastation that the earthquake has caused.
https://twitter.com/IanSinkins/status/768349432131817477
#Rome feels tremors as strong earthquakes strike central #Italy. @AFP #Armatrice #ItalyEarthquake #USA #London pic.twitter.com/gyZqe60jFk
— Imad Salamoun (@ImadSalamoun) August 24, 2016
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