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Earthquake strikes central Italy Earthquake strikes central Italy
(35 minutes later)
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake has struck central Italy, with officials saying some buildings had collapsed and people were trapped under rubble. A magnitude 6.2 earthquake has struck central Italy, collapsing buildings and leaving people trapped under rubble, Italian officials said.
The quake hit at 03:36 (01:36 GMT), 76 km (47 miles) southeast of the city of Perugia, at the very shallow depth of 10km (six miles), the USGS said.The quake hit at 03:36 (01:36 GMT), 76 km (47 miles) southeast of the city of Perugia, at the very shallow depth of 10km (six miles), the USGS said.
The mayor of one town told Italian radio that "half the town is gone".
In Rome, some buildings shook for 20 seconds, according to La Repubblica newspaper.In Rome, some buildings shook for 20 seconds, according to La Repubblica newspaper.
There were no immediate reports of casualties. Amatrice's mayor Sergio Perozzi told state-run RAI radio that the town had been badly damaged.
However the USGS predicted these could be significant, based on data from previous quakes. "The roads in and out of town are cut off. Half the town is gone. There are people under the rubble... There's been a landslide and a bridge might collapse," he said.
The mayor of the town of Amatrice, Sergio Perozzi, told state-run RAI radio that buildings in the town centre had collapsed leaving people trapped under the rubble and the electricity had been cut. Italy's Civil Protection agency described the earthquake as "severe".
The prime minister's office said the government was in touch with regional heads of the civil protection agency.
The quake was initially reported as being magnitude 6.4. It was followed by several powerful aftershocks, La Repubblica newspaper reported.The quake was initially reported as being magnitude 6.4. It was followed by several powerful aftershocks, La Repubblica newspaper reported.
"It was so strong. It seemed the bed was walking across the room by itself with us on it," Lina Mercantini of Ceselli in Umbria, told Reuters news agency.
The USGS predicted the damage could be significant, based on data from previous quakes.
In 2009, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake in the Aquila region, which was also felt in the Italian capital, left more than 300 dead.In 2009, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake in the Aquila region, which was also felt in the Italian capital, left more than 300 dead.