(MENAFN- Saudi Press Agency)
Rome, Muharram 26, 1438, October 27, 2016, SPA -- Two major earthquakes Wednesday struck an area of central Italy that had already been hit by a deadly seismic event two months ago, but early reports suggested that no one was killed or seriously hurt, according to dpa.
The first quake of 5.4 magnitude occurred at 7.10pm (1710GMT) and the second of 5.9 magnitude followed little more than two hours later.
They brought fresh devastation to a remote mountain area about 120 kilometres north-east of Rome.
"One person was slightly injured, it seemed there were two before," civil protection agency head Fabrizio Curcio said in a press conference.
"I would be quite hopeful" about everybody being safe, because people were "all in the streets" following the first seismic event, the mayor of one of the most affected villages, Marco Rinaldi of Ussita, told the SkyTG24 news channel.
"But there are enormous problems .... the area of our town is really finished, it is an apocalyptic situation," he added.
The mayor of another stricken municipality, Castelsantangelo sul Nera, also spoke to SkyTG24. "For sure there will have been some collapses ... it is really tough," he said, adding that rain and temporary power cuts were making it hard to check.
As a precaution, a section of the Salaria state road and train services near the damaged areas were closed. Authorities in the surrounding provinces ordered school closures for Thursday.
"I want to thank those who are working under the rain in the earthquake zone. All of Italy embraces the people who have been hit again," Prime Minister Matteo Renzi wrote on Twitter.
Wednesday's temblors, which could be felt as far as Rome, brought fresh misery to an area where a 6-magnitude earthquake struck on August 24, killing 298 people.
Castelsantangelo sul Nera is located on the map about 30 kilometres north of Amatrice, the town that was worst hit by the August tragedy.
Amatrice Mayor Sergio Pirozzi said some buildings that had already sustained damage collapsed after the latest quakes.
"This quake certainly reawakens our fears," Pirozzi told ANSA. "Thank God we have no dead or injured ... believe me, this is what matters," he added later in comments to SkyTG24.
In Camerino, a nearby university town, the belltower of the 17th century Church of Santa Maria in Via collapsed over a nearby building, but no one was believe to be trapped underneath, the ANSA news agency said.
Locals' anxiety was exacerbated by aftershocks. As of 2025 GMT, the INGV had detected more than 30, the strongest of magnitude 3.8.
There was panic during a top league football game in Pescara, a coast town about 100 kilometres away where the second earthquake was strongly felt. Crowds started leaving the stadium, and the match was suspended for a few minutes as players were also shaken.
There was also concern in Rome, where cracks appeared in dozens of buildings, but no serious damage was reported.
--SPA
01:12 LOCAL TIME 22:12 GMT
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