This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/italy-rome-earthquake-today-57-magnitude-larger-third-tremor-metro-underground-evacuated-injuries-a7532841.html
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Italy earthquake today: Rome metro and schools evacuated as three earthquakes strike | Italy earthquake today: Rome metro and schools evacuated as three earthquakes strike |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Three earthquakes have struck Italy, shaking buildings in Rome and Florence just months after almost 300 people were killed in one of the worst disasters in living memory. | Three earthquakes have struck Italy, shaking buildings in Rome and Florence just months after almost 300 people were killed in one of the worst disasters in living memory. |
| Residents of the capital described their homes and offices shaking when the first tremor struck at around 10.25am local time (9.25am BST). | Residents of the capital described their homes and offices shaking when the first tremor struck at around 10.25am local time (9.25am BST). |
| The US Geological Survey (USGS) measured the initial quake at magnitude 5.3, placing the epicentre in Central Italy at a depth of six miles (10km). | The US Geological Survey (USGS) measured the initial quake at magnitude 5.3, placing the epicentre in Central Italy at a depth of six miles (10km). |
| It was followed 50 minutes later by a stronger 5.7 magnitude quake, which caused Rome's metro to be evacuated as a precaution, with some schools calling parents to pick up their children. Just 10 minutes later, a third earthquake measuring magnitude 5.3 hit. | It was followed 50 minutes later by a stronger 5.7 magnitude quake, which caused Rome's metro to be evacuated as a precaution, with some schools calling parents to pick up their children. Just 10 minutes later, a third earthquake measuring magnitude 5.3 hit. |
| Their epicentres were recorded at the same depth in Italy's seismically active central region, just miles from Amatrice, the town devastated in August's earthquake, which killed 234 of its residents. | Their epicentres were recorded at the same depth in Italy's seismically active central region, just miles from Amatrice, the town devastated in August's earthquake, which killed 234 of its residents. |
| The tower of one of its churches was toppled on Wednesday after surviving the previous disasters. | |
| Much of the region is buried under more than a metre of snow, cutting of electricity and rendering roads impassable, complicating transport and emergency response efforts. | |
| Maurizio Pelosi, the mayor of Capitagno, said that roads in and out of the town were blocked by snow even before the quakes. | |
| A hotel worker in the town near their epicentres, Giuseppe Di Felice, said people could not get out of their homes.“It's apocalyptic,” he added. | |
| The three significant earthquakes were accompanied by more than 30 almost continuous tremors that shook the region, including five over magnitude 4. | |
| There was no immediate indication of deaths or severe damage, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre said. | There was no immediate indication of deaths or severe damage, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre said. |
| Antonio Tajani, the Italian president of the European Parliament, said tremors were “felt as far as Rome (but it) appears there are no victims.” | Antonio Tajani, the Italian president of the European Parliament, said tremors were “felt as far as Rome (but it) appears there are no victims.” |
| The quakes were also felt in Lazio, Abruzzo and Marche, La Repubblica reported, being followed by four smaller aftershocks. | The quakes were also felt in Lazio, Abruzzo and Marche, La Repubblica reported, being followed by four smaller aftershocks. |
| Small tremors have reportedly been felt in Rome for several weeks but Wednesday's was the biggest seismic event in several months. | Small tremors have reportedly been felt in Rome for several weeks but Wednesday's was the biggest seismic event in several months. |
| It comes after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake killed at least 299 people in the country's central regions in August. | It comes after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake killed at least 299 people in the country's central regions in August. |
| That was followed by at least two more deadly earthquakes in Umbria and Marche in October, both measuring over six on the Richter scale. | That was followed by at least two more deadly earthquakes in Umbria and Marche in October, both measuring over six on the Richter scale. |
| Reconstruction efforts continue in towns and villages left reduced to rubble by the disaster, which forced thousands of people to shelter in emergency camps. | Reconstruction efforts continue in towns and villages left reduced to rubble by the disaster, which forced thousands of people to shelter in emergency camps. |
| Italy's Apennine mountains lie along an active fault line between the Adriatic and Eurasian plates, causing frequent seismic activity. | Italy's Apennine mountains lie along an active fault line between the Adriatic and Eurasian plates, causing frequent seismic activity. |
| Seismologists say previous quakes have stressed the Laga Fault, which is rupturing. | Seismologists say previous quakes have stressed the Laga Fault, which is rupturing. |