Italy rocked two ‘apocalyptic’ earthquakes within hours of each other – leaving terrified residents ‘screaming in the street’
This the latest shake to rock Italy after another quake killed hundreds in the town of Amatrice in August
A PAIR of powerful earthquakes have shaken central Italy, knocking out power, closing a major highway and sending panicked residents into the rain-drenched streets.
The first quake carried a magnitude of 5.4, but the second one was even stronger, with a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences.
The U.S. Geological survey put the magnitude at 6.0 and said the epicenter was in Visso, where buildings crumbled into the street.
People screamed in the streets after the second temblor of the night. "It was a very strong earthquake, apocalyptic," Ussita Mayor Marco Rinaldi told the ANSA news agency. "People are screaming on the street and now we are without lights."
Two people were injured in the Visso area, but otherwise there were no other immediate reports of victims, said Italy's civil protection chief, Fabrizio Curcio.
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Old churches crumbled and other buildings were damaged, though many of them were in zones that were declared off-limits after the Aug. 24 quake that flattened parts of three towns.
Visso residents wrapped in blankets filled a Red Cross centre, and the town’s mayor said getting people water and something warm to eat or drink was the priority.
Authorities set up makeshift dorms at the centre and at a nearby gym.
"Tomorrow morning we'll need to get them bathrooms and something to eat.
"That's the next thing. Then, of course, we'll have to start putting up tents," Mayor Giuliano Pazzaglini said.
What is an earthquake?
A earthquake is the shaking of the surface of the earth.
Quakes result from a sudden movement in the earth's crust, that creates seismic waves.
Earthquakes are most commonly caused by the fracture of the earth's rock crust, but have also been known to be triggered by events such as volcanic activity, landslides, mine blasts and nuclear tests.
On land quakes normally cause tremors, but if they occur at sea they can trigger a tsunami.
Earthquakes are measured by magnitude.
Quakes below magnitude three are generally not noticeable, and only those of five or above are usually reported globally.
A tremor of magnitude seven or higher has the potential to cause serious damage over a large area.
The largest earthquakes in historic times were slightly more than magnitude 9, but there is no limit to the possible magnitude.
Many of Visso's residents were spending the night in their cars, as smaller aftershocks continued to rock the town through the night.
"We're without power, waiting for emergency crews," said Mauro Falcucci, the mayor of Castelsantangelo sul Nera, near the epicenter.
Speaking to Sky TG24, he said: "We can't see anything. It's tough. Really tough."
He said some buildings had collapsed, but that there were no immediate reports of injuries in his community. He added that darkness and a downpour were impeding a full accounting.
Italy is one of the most seismically active countries in Europe and has seen many devastating earthquakes.
August's quake in Amatrice killed hundreds and left others trapped under rubble in the devastated city.
Earthquakes result from weaknesses in the earth’s crust, such as those that run all the way up the spine of Italy.
When these weaknesses fracture they trigger earthquakes.
Italy sits on the meeting point of the Eurasian Plate and African Plate, giant rock structures which make up part of the earth’s shell.
The Alps mountain range is formed where these two plates push together, which they are still doing at a rate of 3cm a year.
Minor tremors are common in the country, but events such as today’s magnitude 6.2 quake remain relatively rare.
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