WORLD — Strong Earthquake In Italy Levels Mountain Town Of Amatrice

A devastating 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck the mountain town of Amatrice, Italy on Wednesday. CNN affiliate RAI Radio 1 reported that at least six people were killed in the quake with scores more buried in the rubble. The earthquake originally struck just outside the town of Norcia at 3:36 a.m. local time, sending aftershocks cascading through the region.

(Update: As of Thursday, Aug. 25, the official death toll from this week’s quake has risen to 250, according to Reuters reports.)

The quake reportedly occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers, rocking parts of central Italy. The state-run RAI reported that a 5.5-magnitude aftershock struck just four kilometers north of Norcia, (which is located about 169 kilometers northwest of Rome) an hour after the initial tremors.

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… In the devastated city of Amatrice, around 150 kilometers northeast of the metropolitan city, the situation was much more grim. According to the Associated Press, the mayor of Amatrice, Sergio Perozzi, said in a statement to RAI that an unidentified number of residents were still stuck beneath the broken concrete and heavy debris. “[The city] isn’t here anymore,” Perozzi said.

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Image: FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images