星期三凌晨，意大利中部发生强烈地震，給震中附近地区造成严重损失，至少37人丧生。
美国地质勘探局测定，这次地震的震级为里氏6.2级，震中位于诺尔恰镇东南大约10公里处。附近大片地区都有震感，包括150公里之外的首都罗马。
地震发生在凌晨三点半刚过之后，紧接着又出现几次余震。受灾最严重的地区包括阿马特里切市和阿库莫利市。阿马特里切市长皮洛季对意大利国营国家广播电台说，该市一大部分地区被毁坏。
救援人员拂晓开始搜寻被埋在倒坍建筑物瓦砾中的人。
A strong earthquake shook central Italy early Wednesday causing extensive damage to areas near the epicenter and killing at least 37 people.
The U.S. Geological Survey put the magnitude at 6.2 with an epicenter about 10 kilometers southeast of the town of Norcia. The shaking was felt across a large part of the region, including the capital, Rome, 150 kilometers away.
The quake struck just after 3:30 a.m. and was followed by multiple aftershocks. The hardest-hit areas included the towns of Amatrice and Accumoli. Amatrice Mayor Sergio Pirozzi told state-run broadcaster RAI a large portion of the town was destroyed.
Rescuers worked after daybreak to try to reach those trapped in the rubble of collapsed buildings.
