A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake has hit central Italy, Reuters reports citing the United States Geological Survey and local broadcasters. This comes only three days after two more tremors shook the region on Wednesday, leaving villages partly destroyed.
There were no immediate reports on damage or casualties caused by the quake.
However, local RAI TV reports that the tremor was powerful enough to wake the residents of the capital Rome, who reported walls of buildings shaking.
Initial reports on the magnitude of the tremors varied – while the USGS and Italian media talked of a 7.1 earthquake, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC) said the tremor was magnitude 6.5 or 6.6.
Italians who live in the areas affected by the quake rushed to the web, posting videos of shaking furniture inside their homes.
According to those on Twitter, tremors were felt in Rome, Perugia, Rimini, Abruzzo and even Naples.
Italy's National Commission for the Forecast and Prevention of Major Risks (CGR) cautioned Friday that more powerful earthquakes could hit the region in the nearest future, identifying at least three areas at risk for further seismic activity.
"There is no current evidence that the (seismic) sequence underway is coming to an end," the commission warned.
(RT)
