7.1 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Central Italy, Buildings Collapse Sunday Oct 30,2016

A strong earthquake measuring 6.6 magnitude struck central Italy on Sunday Oct 30,2016, causing the collapse of more buildings and historic churches in small cities and towns already shaken by tremors in the past week.


The quake measured 7.1 according to an initial estimate by the U.S Geological Survey and was later revised to 6.6, the biggest since almost 300 people were killed in central Italy on Aug. 24 by a quake that leveled several small towns.

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre put the magnitude at 6.6 or 6.5 with an epicentre of 132 kilometres north-east of Rome and 67 kilometres east of Perugia, near the epicentre of last week’s quakes. The US Geological Survey put the magnitude at 6.6.

The German Research Centre for Geosciences put the magnitude at 6.5 and said it had a depth of 10 kilometres, a relatively shallow quake near the surface but in the norm for the quake-prone Apennine Mountain region.

While there were no immediate reports of casualties on Sunday Oct 30,2016, damage was substantial.

Live television coverage showed the collapse of a church in the center of Norcia, a town near Perugia in Umbria. Parts of the town had already been sealed off.

Buildings damaged in Norcia included the historic Basilica of St. Benedict and the town hall.

Sunday's earthquake followed a series of tremors to strike the country in the past five days.

It was felt as far north as Bolzano, near the border with Austria and as far south as the Puglia region at the southern tip of the Italian peninsula and was felt strongly in the capital Rome.

A series of strong earthquakes struck the area on Wednesday Oct 26,2016