UPDATE: 37 people dead after 6.2 magnitude earthquake strikes Italy

By: News Staff

ABC News/ABC6 News

news@abc6.com

A powerful earthquake in Italy hit overnight while people were sleeping.

According to Italy’s Civil Protection Department, at least 37 people have been killed.

This morning, many are waking up to complete devastation, and now, the search is on to find survivors

Italian Natural Disaster Rescue crews are on the scene helping the injured and searching for survivors in the aftermath of a 6.2 magnitude earthquake in central Italy.

Overnight, dark images started coming in of the damage. The quake hit while people were asleep at 3:30 a.m. local time.

The epicenter of the town of Norcia, just 100 miles north of Rome, which also felt the tremor for at least 20 seconds.

Tourist Eve Reid and her family woke up to their beds shaking.

“The first thing I did was panic, wonder what was going on. I spoke to my husband in relatively colorful language who told me it was an earthquake and not to panic.”

Initial reports say the hardest hit area is in and around Amatrice where the death toll is rising.

Most of the historic city has been destroyed and residents are buried under collapsed homes and buildings.

The mayor simply said, “The town isn’t here anymore.”

Equipment is being moved in to clear the way for rescue and recovery teams.

ABC’s Megan Williams, who felt the quake in Rome, is on the scene.

“It’s a very mountainous area. The roads aren’t easy so it’s not an easily accessibly area and it will take a while i imagine for rescuers to get there.”

This part of central Italy has seen several significant earthquakes in the past century.

In 2009, a 6.3 magnitude quake killed nearly 300 people and now tragedy has struck again.

That area is also dealing with aftershocks.

Back here at home, the state department is urging U.S. citizens in Italy, if they’re safe, to check in on social media and please contact family and friends.

©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2016