Italy: 120 people killed in the earthquake

The number of people killed in earthquake that hit the central Italy and Rome on Wednesday night reached 120, Xinhua News writes citing sources from the Italian civil protection. The magnitude 6.2 quake struck at 03:36 (01:36 GMT), 100km (65 miles) north-east of Rome, not far from Perugia. The most affected localities are Accumoli, Amatrice, Posta and Arquata del Tronto, located between Rome and Perugia.

According to the National Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the earthquake occurred at a depth of 4.2 km followed by several strong aftershocks. The quake was also felt in the Italian capital, Rome. Sergio Pirozzi, mayor of Amatrice, declared for the local media that ''most part of the city is destroyed''. Many of the dead were in the historic town of Amatrice, where the mayor said three-quarters of the town was destroyed, and in nearby Accumoli.''Unfortunately, we expect the death toll to rise", he added.

Head of Civil Protection, Fabrizio Curcio, explained in a press conference held in Rome, that the earthquake can be compared to that powerful earthquake that hit L'Aquila in 2009, when over 300 people died.

Rescue teams from around the country have been sent to the affected region. The area is mountainous and access is difficult. Tent camps are being set up for those who need shelter, while others will be accommodated in buildings such as gymnasiums. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi paid tribute to the volunteers and civil defense officials who had rushed to the scene in the middle of the night and used their bare hands to dig for survivors.