A magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit Norcia in central Italy early this morning, followed by some 40 more aftershocks over the course of three hours. The quakes affected towns throughout the Umbria, Lazio and Marche regions. Italian wire service ANSA is currently reporting 73 dead.
An aerial view of Pescara del Tronto (Image: Getty / Giuseppe Bellini)
Amatrice was among the most damaged towns. Its mayor, Sergio Pirozzi, told the Associated Press that the town simply “isnt’s here anymore“. Rescue efforts have been underway as workers attempt to dig survivors out from the rubble — video of which has surfaced on social media.
Rescue workers search for survivors in Amatrice (Image: AP / Alessandra Tarantino)
Facebook activated its safety check feature for residents of central Italy so they could inform friends and family of their safety. Photos on social media suggest that relief workers have begun setting up aid camps in the affected areas.
The old buildings in Arquata del Tronto simply buckled from the shaking (Image: Getty / Giuseppe Bellini)
Rescue workers pulled this 75-year-old man from the rubble in Arquata del Tronto (Image: Getty / Giuseppe Bellini)
Aerial photo of Amatrice (Image: AP / Gregorio Borgia)
It’s unclear whether some buildings can be salvaged or repaired (Image: Getty / Giuseppe Bellini
An aerial view of Pescara del Tronto (Image: Getty / Giuseppe Bellini)
A damaged road in Arquata del Tronto (Image: Getty / Giuseppe Bellini)
The cracked road viewed from a different angle (Image: Getty / Giuseppe Bellini)
Rescue workers in Accumoli (Image: Getty / Giuseppe Bellini)
Rescue workers dig through the rubble of a collapsed apartment building in Arquata del Tronto (Image: Getty / Giuseppe Bellini)
The wall of a bedroom went missing in Arquata del Tronto (Image: Getty / Giuseppe Bellini)