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QUAKES ROCK ITALY 

Rome struck by three earthquakes in one hour in latest disaster to hit Italy

There are currently no reports of deaths or serious damage being sustained but the Metro has been evacuated as a result of the tremors

By NEAL BAKER

18th January 2017, 9:53 am

Updated: 18th January 2017, 6:42 pm

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THE Metro and some schools have been evacuated after a number of earthquakes struck central Italy near the capital Rome.

The first hit at around 10:25am local time with its epicentre pinpointed to just 69 miles North East of the historic city, just ten miles from Maltignano at a magnitude of 5.3 on the Richter scale.

GETTY IMAGES

Rome has been rocked by three earthquakes this morning, forcing the metro and some schools to be evacuated

EPA

United States Geological Survey shows the location of a 5.3 magnitude earthquake that struck at 10:25 am local time 65 miles northeast of Rome

There are currently no reports of deaths or serious damage being sustained but the Metro has been evacuated as a result of the tremors.

Residents of the Italian capital described their homes and offices shaking as the tremor struck.

Small seismic events have been felt in the ancient city for several weeks but today’s was the largest in months.

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Reports then came in of a second earthquake hitting the city at 11:17am local time with some suggesting it was even stronger than the first.

It is the latest of several quakes to hit Italy over the last few months.

A 6.2 magnitude earthquake killed 300 people and flattened thousands of homes and businesses in the village of Amatrice in the centre of the country in August.

Two more fatal tremors were felt in Umbria and Marche in October, both clocking in at over six on the Richter scale.

AP:ASSOCIATED PRESS

The town of Amatrice was flattened by an earthquake on August 24 last year

EPA

300 people lost their lives in the tragedy

More than 45,000 aftershocks have since rattled the region, including a 6.6 magnitude quake in October, the biggest tremor to strike Italy for 36 years.

The recent quakes have reshaped more than 600 square km (230 square miles) of land, lowering areas around the epicentre by up to 70 cm (28 inches), according to data released by Italy’s National Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV).

Romans took to Twitter to tell of their concern at the seismic event.

Paula tweeted: WTF! The desk was shaking! ok. I’m ok and everythings is ok. #earthquake #Rome #Italy.”

Eric J. Lyman posted: “Now, I felt that #earthquake! Have a feeling the one at 11:17 was a big one. Car alarms going off, dogs barking in #Rome.”

There have been reports that some tremors have been felt as far south as Naples.

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• TOPICS
• EARTHQUAKES
• ITALY
• ROME