Two Powerful Quakes Hit Central Italy, Leaving Major Damages

MEP: Two powerful earthquakes hit central Italy on Wednesday night about 50 miles north of the site of a deadly August quake that killed nearly 300 people, the US Geological Survey said.

The strong tremors left extensive damage to mountains and villages as well as the town of Ussita.

A 5.5-magnitude quake struck at 19:10 (17:10 GMT) near Visso in Macerata province, followed two hours later by a 6.1 magnitude tremor in the same area.

One resident who lives near St Peter’s Square said she “felt the apartment shaking and the walls cracking”.

There have been no reports yet of injuries, although there was damage in Visso and another town, Campi, where the historic church, San Salvatore, was destroyed by the tremors — the first severely damaged the 15th century structure and the second finished it off.

“The walls fell in on me,” said a woman who rushed out of her office.

“All the objects and books fell off the shelves. I ran down the stairs and outside it was all dust. People were screaming”.