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Italy earthquakes: Strong tremors shakes Rome buildings Italy earthquakes: Strong tremors shake Rome buildings
(35 minutes later)
Two strong earthquakes have hit central Italy, shaking buildings in the capital Rome. Two strong earthquakes have hit central Italy, shaking buildings in Rome.
A 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck at 1710 GMT south of Visso in the province of Macerata, the US Geological Survey said. There were no immediate reports of injuries. A 5.5-magnitude quake struck at 1910 local time (1710 GMT) near Visso in Macerata province, the US Geological Survey said.
It was followed just over two hours later by even more powerful tremor. It was followed two hours later by a 6.1 magnitude tremor close to the same area, USGS said. There were no immediate reports of deaths.
The quakes come two months after a powerful earthquake struck slightly to the south, killing 295 people.The quakes come two months after a powerful earthquake struck slightly to the south, killing 295 people.
The 6.2 magnitude quake, on 24 August, toppled buildings in villages in the mountainous region around Amatrice.The 6.2 magnitude quake, on 24 August, toppled buildings in villages in the mountainous region around Amatrice.
Amatrice is just 60km (37 miles) away from the epicentre of Wednesday's first earthquake.Amatrice is just 60km (37 miles) away from the epicentre of Wednesday's first earthquake.
People in the towns of Pescara, Ancone and L'Aquila rushed out of their homes in panic as the ground shook. The BBC's Katya Adler, in Rome, says that emergency services in the affected areas are still assessing the situation.
The earthquakes rattled doors and windows in Rome, reports said. The mayor of one town said residents were without power, and there were reports of damaged buildings. The second earthquake was considerably stronger than the first. One witness told Italian TV he saw part of a building collapse in front of him.
A section of a highway north of Rome was closed due to a landslide, said Ornella De Luca, a spokeswoman for Italy's civil protection agency. Two people were injured in the Visso area, Italy's civil protection chief Fabrizio Curcio said, but otherwise there were no other immediate reports of casualties.
Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is on his way to Rome, local media (in Italian) report. There are also reports of downed power lines, damage to historic buildings and a landslide on a highway north of Rome.
The first earthquake was relatively shallow, at a depth of 9km (nearly six miles). "It was a very strong earthquake, apocalyptic," Marco Rinaldi, mayor of Ussita to the east of Visso, told Italy's Ansa news agency, referring to the second earthquake.
"People are screaming on the street and now we are without lights."
Schools in the region will remain closed on Thursday, our correspondent reports.
Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is on his way to Rome, local media (in Italian) say.
The first earthquake, 7km south-southwest of Visso, was relatively shallow, at a depth of 9km (nearly six miles).
The second, at 2118 local time, was 2km north-northwest of Visso, at a depth of 10km.
Are you in an area affected by the earthquake? Tell us about your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in an area affected by the earthquake? Tell us about your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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