Deadly earthquake rocks central Italy

A 6.2 magnitude earthquake has hit central Italy, killing at least 10 people. The worst-hit towns of Amatrice and Accumoli have been partially demolished.

The earthquake struck near the central Italian town of Norcia in the province of Perugia at 0336 local time (0136 UTC) on Wednesday.

The quake, which struck at a low depth of 10 kilometers (six miles), was reportedly felt as far away as Rome, some 160 kilometers from the epicenter. Several aftershocks were also reported, forcing local residents to running out into the streets to avoid collapsing buildings.

At least 10 people died in the quake and several others were injured. The worst affected towns were Accumoli, Amatrice, Posta and Arquata del Tronto.

DW reporter Lewis Sanders, in Ascoli Piceno, about 60 kilometers from the epicenter, said he "woke up to the house shaking violently."

'More dreadful than we feared'

As morning broke, residents, civil workers and priests began digging through the rubble with shovels and bulldozers in the hope of finding survivors.

"Now that daylight has come, we see that the situation is even more dreadful than we feared, with buildings collapsed, people trapped under rubble and no sound of life," Accumoli mayor Stefano Petrucci said.

At least six people died there, including a family of four.

In nearby Amatrice, the hospital was evacuated and its 15 patients moved into the streets.

"Half the town is gone," said Amatrice Mayor Sergio Pirozzi.

"There are people under the rubble ... There's been a landslide and a bridge might collapse," Amatrice told RAI.

The USGS' PAGER system issued an orange alert for shaking-related fatalities, suggesting significant casualties are likely.

It issued a red alert for economic damage, saying "extensive damage is probable and the disaster is likely widespread."

In 2009, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake near L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region killed more than 300 people.