A pair of earthquakes has hit central Italy,
sending fearful residents running into the streets not far from where a
powerful temblor killed nearly 300 people in August.
“It was a very strong earthquake, apocalyptic,” Marco
Rinaldi, mayor of the small town of Ussita, told reporters. “People
are screaming on the street and now we are without lights.”
Rinaldi added, "Many houses have collapsed. Our town is
finished."
"There have been collapses," Mayor Mauro Falcucci
of Castelsantangelo, near the epicenter, was quoted by The Independent as
saying. The area is "under a deluge" as relief efforts begin, he said.
There were scattered reports of damage to buildings in the
region, including pieces of masonry crumbling, Ornella De Luca, a spokeswoman
for Italy’s civil protection agency, told Press men. About 60
aftershocks rocked the area, according to observers. The temblors were felt as
far away as Rome, more than 90 miles to the south, according to Voice of
America.
“All told, the information so far is that it’s not as
catastrophic” as it could have been, Fabrizio Curcio, head of Italy’s civil protection agency, was
quoted as saying.
At least two people were wounded in the first quake, but
there were no immediate reports of deaths or others injuries in either event.
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