5.5 Magnitude Foreshock, 6.1 Main Earthquake Strike Central Italy in Two Hours; Injuries, Damage Reported[
By Sean Breslin
Published Oct 26 2016 05:01 PM EDT
weather.com
Damage Reported After Quakes Strike Italy
Meteorologist Kait Parker reports on a second earthquake in Italy. People as far as Rome have felt small tremors. Minor damage now being observed.
Two powerful earthquakes occurred in central Italy on Wednesday night, with the second being stronger than the first.
The foreshock was rated 5.5 magnitude by the USGS, while the main quake was rated 6.1.
A pair of large earthquakes struck central Italy Wednesday night, with the second being larger than the first.
Both temblors were
centered near the town of Visso, Italy, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The second quake was given a preliminary 6.1 rating after it struck at 9:18 p.m. local time (3:18 p.m. EDT) at a depth of 6.2 miles, USGS data revealed.
"It was a very strong earthquake, apocalyptic," Ussita Mayor Marco Rinaldi told the ANSA news agency, as reported by the Associated Press, following the main quake.
"People are screaming on the street and now we are without lights."
Two hours and eight minutes earlier, the same area was shaken by a 5.5 magnitude earthquake that was felt as far away as Rome. It, too, was measured at a depth of 6.2 miles.
The first earthquake was responsible for some structural damage and at least two injuries. There was no immediate word on additional damage or casualties from the second tremor.
"We're without power, waiting for emergency crews," said the mayor of Castelsantangelo sul Nera in an interview with Sky TG24 following the first earthquake. "We can't see anything. It's tough. Really tough."
(MORE: Two Faults 'Holding Hands' Could Unleash Huge California Quake)
The mayor also said some buildings collapsed, but he hadn't heard of injuries in his town. Darkness and rainfall were hindering the search for any residents that were possibly trapped.
After a quake-induced landslide, a major state highway known as the Salaria was closed near Arquata del Tronto for precautionary reasons, the AP also said.
The earthquakes occurred not far from the epicenter of a 6.2 magnitude temblor that killed more than 200 people on Aug. 24. That tremor left widespread damage, toppling centuries-old buildings in a matter of seconds, which brought back awful memories Wednesday as the ground began shaking again.
"There's a lot of fear, but it would seem, fortunately, from the first reports no problems for people," said Pietro Luigi Altavilla, deputy mayor of Norcia, according to the AP.
