The quake was so long and powerful that Rome residents were woken up by the shaking of their houses' walls, a RIA Novosti reporter said. Two ancient churches — the church of St. Benedict and the church of Santa Maria Argentea — were reportedly destroyed in the town of Norcia.
In #Norcia firefighters are evacuating nuns from the church.#Terremoto #earthquake pic.twitter.com/DF18hwoIJK
— Middle Ages Dictator (@gabrix_90) 30 октября 2016 г.
There are reports about destruction in the regions of Marche and Umbria.
Ussita Mayor Marco Rinaldi said as quoted by La Repubblica:
"It all collapsed, I see columns of smoke, it is a disaster, it is a catastrophe, I have seen hell."
He added that nobody is likely be injured as local residents left the settlement after first tremors several days ago.
Ancora crollo nelle #Marche dopo il #terremoto. Questa è #Tolentino pochi minuti fa. #terremotocentroitalia pic.twitter.com/wVmVLfXIqg
— Stefano Pagliarini (@PagliariniSte) 30 октября 2016 г.
Civil protection services are checking whether there were any casualties.
Crollata la Cattedrale di Norcia #terremoto #earthquake pic.twitter.com/P1Mg2JON97
— Paolo Di Giovanni (@PaoloDiGiovann1) 30 октября 2016 г.
#ItalyEarthquake #images pic.twitter.com/kvziolqU1I
— rana salma (@ranasalma3) 30 октября 2016 г.
The most powerful 6.5-magnitude tremor was registered at 06:41 GMT. The epicenter of the earthquake laid 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) deep between the cities of Perugia and Macerata. The magnitude was initially measured at 7.1.
The Basilica of St. Benedict is destroyed, flattened by most recent earthquake. #Terremoto pic.twitter.com/GQDl64LhFn
— The Monks of Norcia (@monksofnorcia) 30 октября 2016 г.
Seven other powerful tremors including those with 4.6 and 4.8 magnitude followed the major earthquake.
Woken up by the hotel room shaking, hope people are safe this morning. #Terremoto #earthquake
— Carl Mitchell, CIHCM (@Carl_Riverside) 30 октября 2016 г.
M6.1 according to civil protection. #earthquake #itay @INGVterremoti @LastQuake pic.twitter.com/OJXLMOyaj7
— iunio iervolino (@iiuunniioo) 30 октября 2016 г.
U.S. Geological Survey says a magnitude 7.1 earthquake has struck central Italy 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/dM7TZY7r1D
— RP (@WhatDaffaq) 30 октября 2016 г.
Wow! Whole house just shook! Italy just suffered another #earthquake. Hope that didn't cause too much damage. #scossa #shatmeself
— Seb Robbins (@SebRobbins) 30 октября 2016 г.
The epicentre of this #earthquake was again between Umbria and Marche according to @LastQuake — but significantly stronger than past ones. pic.twitter.com/fjNBZe8mxj
— Ferdinando Giugliano (@FerdiGiugliano) 30 октября 2016 г.
OK this one I felt. Glasses shaking, lights swinging. #earthquake #italy #terremoto #roma https://t.co/m0pLxqSoFL
— Leighla Bowers (@leighla_b) 30 октября 2016 г.
Earthquake in Italy 7.1 magnitude, strikes the central Italy#Terremoto pic.twitter.com/zsHjTLPZX7
— (((Beny Raccah))) (@BenyRaccah) 30 октября 2016 г.
As far as I can say from Rome, this was the most powerful and shaking #earthquake shock ever felt in the last months#Terremoto
— Antonello Guerrera (@antoguerrera) 30 октября 2016 г.
Rome's authorities closed the underground to conduct necessary security checks. There are no reports about any damages in the Italy’s capital.
Monks and nuns praying with people in the main square in Norcia, devastated by today's quake: #terremoto #earthquake #Norcia pic.twitter.com/qNZZWDYhKd
— Mary Shovlain (@maryshovlain) 30 октября 2016 г.
On Wednesday, two other earthquakes of magnitudes of 6.3 and 5.4 hit the region of Marche. Another tremor was felt in the late hours of the day.
Map of the last 7 days of seismicity. The mainshock M6.5 is located about 10 km N-NE of Norcia pic.twitter.com/heBT0WSuyC
— EMSC (@LastQuake) 30 октября 2016 г.
Mayor of Ussita in central Italy: 90% of buildings damaged #Terremoto https://t.co/565EOYOPAG
— Asaf Ronel (@AsafRonel) 30 октября 2016 г.
On August 24, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake hit Italy, causing damage across the regions of Umbria, Lazio and Marche and resulting in the deaths of over 290 people.
What to do after violent shaking? Here are some hints! Always follow instructions from emergency services pic.twitter.com/3XJYaG9kCB
— EMSC (@LastQuake) 30 октября 2016 г.
