Thousands have been left homeless following the latest in a series of earthquakes to devastate historic towns in central Italy.
Around 11,000 people are expected to need help from Italy’s Civil Protection agency following three powerful earthquakes that have hit the country in two months.
The 6.6-magnitude quake that hit yesterday morning was the most powerful yet, destroying a Benedictine cathedral, a medieval tower and other landmarks in a mountainous region of small settlements.
Lost or severely damaged in the shaking were ancient Roman walls, Gothic and Baroque churches and centuries-old paintings crushed beneath tons of brick, sandstone and marble.
Italian Premier Matteo Renzi said the nation’s “soul is disturbed” by the series of quakes, starting with the deadly August 24 event that killed nearly 300 people.
There were two powerful aftershocks on Wednesday, and then on Sunday the strongest earthquake to hit Italy in 36 years.
The lack of fatalities was attributed to the evacuation of sensitive areas and fragile city centres.
Nearly 8,000 people have been moved to shelters or hotels following the quakes last week and the number was expected to reach 11,000 by this morning.
Many who stayed behind were sleeping in camper vans or other vehicles, out of harm’s way.
Mr Renzi vowed to rebuild houses, churches and business, saying, “a piece of Italian identity is at stake at this moment”.
He said: “Feeling the earth collapse beneath your feet is not a metaphorical expression but is what happened this morning, and half of Italy felt this.”
The earthquake struck another painful blow to the rich artistic heritage of villages that dot the Apennine Mountains.
The worst damage was reported in Norcia, a town in Umbria closest to the epicentre, with two churches destroyed, including the 14th century Basilica of St Benedict, built on the traditional birthplace of St Benedict, founder of the Benedictine monastic order.
