At 3 on the night of Wednesday 36 August, central Italy was struck by an earthquake similar to the one that shocked L'Aquila in 2009. The seismographs recorded a phenomenon of 6 magnitude, among the most powerful that have occurred in recent years, to the point that the shock was felt from Rimini to Naples. The epicenter is located 2 kilometers from Accumoli (Rieti) and 10 from Arquata del Tronto (Ascoli Piceno) e Amateur (Rieti). The hypocenter was only 4 km deep. According to the Civil Protection, they are so far more than 120 confirmed victims.
This earthquake "is comparable in intensity to that of L'Aquila," said the head of the Civil Protection Department, Fabrizio Curcio.
SECOND AND THIRD SHOCK
A second and third tremors followed, recorded respectively at 4 and 32. They had their epicenter near Norcia (Perugia), Castelsantangelo sul Nera (Macerata) and Arquata del Tronto (Ascoli Piceno). The hypocenters, in this case, were located at a greater depth, between 4 and 33 km.
THE VICTIMS
Unfortunately, there have been casualties. So far, in all over 120 bodies they have been extracted lifeless from what remains of the collapsed buildings. In particular, the dead are 86 between Amatrice and Accumoli, while 34 are the victims ascertained by the Civil Protection of the Marches. At least 81 wounded arrived at the emergency room in Ascoli and San Benedetto del Tronto, 7 of whom are in serious condition, 153 are hospitalized in structures in Lazio.
“It's a drama, there are dead people and people under the rubble – said the mayor of Amatrice, Sergio Pirozzi immediately after the earthquake -. Half the country is gone. Access roads are blocked.
The Amatrice hospital is unusable. The wounded and stretchers are also treated on the street in front of the hospital. Ambulances are transferring the injured to Rieti, while patients hospitalized in the facility are being moved to other hospitals.
THE NUMBERS OF CIVIL PROTECTION
Two Civil Protection numbers are active for emergencies: 840840 e 803555.
TRAINS: REGULAR RAILWAY CIRCULATION
Meanwhile, the State Railways let it be known that at 7.15 am all the regional railway lines that had been interrupted for checks by Rfi technicians following the earthquake tremors were reactivated. Traffic has always been regular on the High Speed line.
