Residents were forced to sleep at temporary accommodation due to strong, new quake in Italy.
Thousands of residents in central Italy had no choice but to spent the night in cars, tents and temporary accommodation following magnitude 6.6 quake on Sunday.
The tremor struck northeast of Rome at 7:40 a.m. (2:40 a.m. ET), and is considered the most powerful earthquake to strike the country in 36 years.
The U.S. Geological Survey initially measured the quake at 7.1 but revised it to 6.6. It’s epicenter is about 100 miles northeast of Rome.
This is already the fourth earthquake in the area in three months, and struck close to the region where nearly 300 people were killed by a quake in August.
Based on the records of authorities, no-one appears to have died as of this time but about 20 people were injured.
Powerful aftershocks jolting the region following the first one are still bringing down masonry.
In the town of Norcia in Perugia region, which is close to the epicenter of the earthquake on Sunday, some locals have decided to stay in their homes.
Others spent the night in tents located near the town or have taken up the authorities’ offer of shelter on the Adriatic Coast.
“It will be a difficult night,” the head of Italian Civil Defence, Fabrizio Curcio said on Sunday. “A 6.5 earthquake has clearly changed the situation.”
Among many historic buildings and structures that were destroyed was the medieval basilica of St Benedict in Norcia.
With this is an evacuation of buildings in central Italy which deemed vulnerable to seismic activity last week, following strong aftershocks from August’s quake.
In the town of Tolentino, officials said three people were dug out of the rubble alive.
Giuseppe Pezzanesi, mayor of Tolentino, said the small town had “suffered our blackest day yet”.
“The damage is irreparable. There are thousands of people in the streets, terrified, crying. Let’s hope that is an end to it, the people are on their knees psychologically,” he said.
The towns of Castelsantangelo and Preci have also suffered considerable damage, but were mainly abandoned after last week’s quakes, of magnitude 5.5 and 6.1.