Central Italy earthquake: death toll rises to 120 – as it happened

AFP is now reporting there has been a third confirmed death. Here’s its latest report:

The first two confirmed victims were an elderly couple whose home collapsed in Pescara del Tronto in the Marche region, east of the epicentre, according to national broadcaster Rai.

Another person died and a family of four including two young children were trapped, feared dead, in their collapsed house in Accumoli, a village close to the epicentre, according to its mayor.

“We have a tragedy here,” Stefano Petrucci told Rai. “For the moment one death is confirmed but there are another four people under the rubble and they are not responding.

“It is a disaster, we have no light, no telephones, the rescue services have not got here yet.”

I’ve just spoken with Helen Miller, who lives near the quake region about one-and-a-half hours from Accumoli. The quake was clearly felt where she lives in Saint Angelo in Pontano. Here’s what she said earlier:

I am in Sant Angelo in Pontano, Le Marche, where I live, about one-and-a-half hours from Accumoli over the mountains. The dogs have been barking since it happened. I went out to find my horses as soon as the first earthquake struck, they were wild-eyed and afraid, on high-alert. The second quake happened and they took off at speed.

When the first quake struck felt as thought the house would burst and the shakes continue now. Even here people were standing in the streets, dazed, you just don’t know how close it is, what might come next. The aftershocks go on now, as they did with L’Aquila. I know it will be bad up there on the mountains and people are trapped, and animals will be trapped as shelters collapse.

Here’s more images of rescue crews in Amatrice, where the damage to buildings and infrastructure appears to be extensive based on reports coming through.

The first reports are beginning to emerge of injuries and deaths from towns close to the epicentre of the earthquake in Italy.

Reuters is reporting that police in Pescara have said two people have died, while a number of others are trapped under rubble. Here’s the key parts of their report:

A strong earthquake brought down buildings in central Italy early on Wednesday, trapping residents and sending others fleeing into the streets, with at least six people believed killed.

The worst hit towns were believed to be Accumoli, Amatrice, Posta and Arquata del Tronto, Fire department spokesman Luca Cari told Reuters, adding that helicopters would be sent up at first light to assess the damage.

The mayor of Accumoli said a number of buildings had been badly damaged. “Four people are under the rubble, but they are not showing any sign of life. Two parents and two children,” Stefano Petrucci told RAI television.

RAI quoted police as saying two people were known to have died in the nearby village of Pescara del Tronto.

Pictures beginning to emerge from Amatrice in central Italy are showing some of the devastation caused by the quake. Here’s some of the first images we’ve received.

View image in fullscreen

View image in fullscreen

Italian news network Rainews is broadcasting footage of the aftermath of the earthquake. There’s substantial debris from the footage we can see, posted by other users watching the broadcast on Twitter.

A number of images are beginning to surface from areas affected by the quake. The Umbria 24 news network has published a number of photos that show damage to buildings, tunnels and the evacuation of residents:

One of the towns where reports have first emerged of damage is Amatrice, in central Italy. The epicentre of the quake is Rieti, approximately 170km (105 miles) from Rome. Here’s a map outlining where the quake has struck:

We’ve just published our first report on the quake. Here’s an excerpt that outlines the key points:

An earthquake recorded at magnitude 6.2 has struck central Italy, with reports of extensive damage, people trapped, others fleeing into the streets and blackouts near the epicentre.

The mayor of the small town of Amatrice said residents were buried under debris and the town “isn’t here any more”.

The US Geological Survey said the quake hit near the town of Norcia in the region of Umbria at 3.36am. The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre put the magnitude at 6.1 and said the epicentre was north-east of Rome, near Rieti.

Sergio Pirozzi, the mayor in Amatrice, near Rieti, reported extensive damage. “Half the town is gone,” he told RAI state television. “There are people under the rubble … There’s been a landslide and a bridge might collapse.”

Italy’s civil protection agency said the earthquake was “severe”. Fire department spokesman Luca Cari said “there have been reports of victims” in the quake zone, but he did not have any precise details.

An earthquake with a 6.2 magnitude has struck central Italy, with reports emerging of widespread damage across a number of towns.

We’ll have rolling coverage of events as we receive news of the impact on towns. Here’s a short summary of what we know so far:

• A 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck near the town of Norcia at 3:36am this morning, according to the US Geological Survey. A number of aftershocks have also been recorded.

• The mayor of a nearby town Amatrice reportedly told RAI state television that “half the town is gone”. He said there are people caught under the rubble.

• Italy’s civil protection agency described the earthquake as “severe”. At the moment it is unclear whether any people have been injured or how severe they are.
  

We’ll update you as we know more.