VISSO, ITALY // Two strong earthquakes rocked central Italy on Wednesday, toppling buildings and injuring dozens of people, two months after a devastating tremor killed nearly 300 in the same region.
The first 5.5 magnitude quake sent people running out of their houses, likely saving lives when the second, more destructive, 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck two hours later.
But rescuers working through the night and in the rain were struggling to assess the full extent of the disaster.
"Many houses have collapsed. Our town is finished," Marco Rinaldi, mayor of the mountain town of Ussita, said.
"The second quake was a long, terrible one," he said.
"I've felt a lot of earthquakes but that was the strongest I've ever felt. Fortunately everyone had already left their homes after the first quake so I don't think anyone was hurt."
Several dozen people were treated for light injuries or shock, civil protection chief Fabrizio Curcio said, but no serious injuries had been reported.
"Ultimately, the situation is not as catastrophic as might have been expected" given the strength of the tremors, he said.
The quakes were felt in the capital Rome, sending residents running out of their houses and into the streets. The second was felt as far away as Venice in the far north, and Naples, south of the capital.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) registered a first 5.5 magnitude quake at 1710 GMT (9.10pm UAE time), with the second two hours later. In both cases the epicentre was near the village of Visso in the central Marche region.
In August, a 6.0-6.2 magnitude quake flattened the mountain town of Amatrice - 70 kilometres from Visso - killing 297 people and injuring hundreds of others.
The area is also not far from L'Aquila where a powerful earthquake killed more than 300 in 2009.
After the second quake, Italian television channels broadcast images of collapsed buildings and people standing dazed in front of their toppled houses.
"It is not very easy to make assessments in the dark and the weather is bad in the whole region. We will have to see more precisely in the light of day," said Mr Curcio.
Across the region, hospitals, a university residence, a retirement home and even a prison had to be evacuated.
"Tonight we're going to go. But tomorrow I don't know. The tents, I can't go there, it's too cold," a resident of Visso said on television.
For people who are unable to return home immediately, civil protection has arranged accommodation in gyms and prepared to reopen some of the tent camps which were set up after the August earthquake. Many residents prepared to spend the night in their cars.
"I want to thank those working in the rain in the earthquake zones. All of Italy is wrapping its arms around the communities that have been hit once again," prime minister Matteo Renzi tweeted.
In Rome, the quakes rattled windows and doors. The imposing foreign ministry headquarters was temporarily evacuated.
A Serie A football match between Pescara and Atalanta was halted for several minutes when the first tremor hit.
The mayor of Serravalle del Chienti, Gabriele Santamarianova, said the quake felt "like bombs were falling".
"We saw a cloud of dust, we don't yet know what has fallen down. We'll see once the sun comes up."
Castel Sant'Angelo's mayor Mauro Falcucci told Sky News: "There is no electricity. There are bound to be house collapses. On top of this there are torrential rains."
* Agence France-Presse
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