A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.2 on the Richter scale early Wednesday shook central Italy, killing at least three people and damaging numerous buildings, especially in the municipalities of Norcia, in the province of Perugia , and Amatrice and Accumoli, Lazio.
EFE
An elderly couple died in the town of Pescara del Tronto, in the Marche region, according to Italian media reported citing sources in the police, while another died in Accumoli, as confirmed by the local mayor, Stefano Petrucci .
In addition, there Accumoli a family of four people trapped under the rubble, "that no one answers," and to which the Italian authorities try to rescue, said Petrucci.
The municipalities most affected by the event are Norcia, where there are numerous buildings severely damaged but "victimless for the moment," said Tiziana Tombesi, Vice Prefect of the province of Perugia, which belongs Norcia.
Also Amatrice, a town of about 2,000 inhabitants, has been severely shaken, said its mayor, Sergio Pirozzi, who was not confirmed casualties so far.
Finally, in Accumoli it has also been significant damage to buildings in this small village of about 700 inhabitants.
The quake, measuring 6.2 according to the US Geological Survey (USGS), was felt in central Italy at 03.36 local time (01.36 GMT) and the epicenter was located about ten kilometers southeast of Norcia, in the province of Perugia.
The earthquake was followed by several aftershocks, a replica of magnitude 3.9 near Norcia, in the province of Perugia, another 4.6 after 30 minutes with its epicenter 10 kilometers west of Amatrice and another 5.5 to 02.33 GMT located 4 kilometers southeast of Norcia.
The earthquake occurred very near L'Aquila, where there was a 6.3 magnitude earthquake that caused more than 300 deaths and devastated the Abruzzo region and the historic center of L'Aquila in 2009.