BREAKING NEWS: "Massive Quake 6.2 Hits Italy" "Rattles Rome" People Trapped"

A powerful 6.2-magnitude earthquake followed by a series of aftershocks has rocked central Italy. Strong tremors were felt in the country’s capital, Rome, and several small towns and villages have been seriously damaged with at least 14 people reportedly killed.

A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck central Italy early on Wednesday, with reports of damaged buildings and blackouts near the epicentre Rieti and residents fleeing their homes and running into the streets.

The shallow quake, estimated to have struck after 3:30am at a depth of 4km, was felt across a broad section of central Italy, including the capital Rome where people in homes in the historic centre felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks.

The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre put the magnitude at 6.1 and said the epicentre was northeast of Rome, near Rieti. The US Geological Survey put the magnitude at 6.2.

Aftermath of shattering quake in central Italy