At Least 92 Dead as 6.3 Quake Rocks Italy

Houses collapsed as people slept

By Mary Papenfuss, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 6, 2009 9:06 AM CDT

(Newser) – At least 92 people are reported dead and some 1500 injured after a powerful 6.3 earthquake shook a large swath of central Italy at 3:32am local time, reports the Guardian. Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi has declared a state of emergency as the quake toppled churches, houses, and office buildings while people slept, leaving an estimated 50000 homeless.

"The quake was so strong. I was woken from my bed and when I tried to get up I fell over," said one resident. The hardest hit area was L'Aquila, a medieval mountain city 60 miles east of Rome, which has seen at least nine smaller temblors this month. Chunks of destroyed buildings blocked roadways in L'Aguila, hampering rescue workers. "Thousands of buildings" are likely "collapsed or damaged," said a government official.

[Images (19)]

[Videos (2)]

A firefighter reacts as he stands next to the site where a four-story building collapsed following a earthquake in L'Aquila, central Italy, Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

Patients are treated outside the St.Salvatore Hospital, in L'Aquila, central Italy, Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

A young boy is treated outside the St. Salvatore Hospital, in L'Aquila, central Italy, Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Patients are treated outside St. Salvatore Hospital, in L'Aquila, central Italy, Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

A damaged building is seen in the city of L'Aquila, after a strong earthquake rocked central Italy, early Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

Firefighters remove debris in the city of L'Aquila, after a strong earthquake rocked central Italy, early Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

Map locates epicenter of the 6.3-magnitude earthquake.

Rescue workers carry a woman from a collapsed building in L'Aquila after a powerful earthquake shook central Italy.

Two police officers walk by debris in L'Aquila, central Italy, following an earthquake, Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

The remains of a house following a strong earthquake, in the village of Onna, central Italy, Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Sandro Perozzi)

A statue of St. Joseph and baby Jesus is seen inside a damaged church in the village of St. Elia central Italy following a strong earthquake, Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, left, and Civil Protection Chief Guido Bertolaso meet journalists in L'Aquila, central Italy, Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

A car is covered by debris following a strong earthquake, in the village of Onna, central Italy, Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Sandro Perozzi)

People react in front of the site where a four-storey building collapsed following a earthquake in L'Aquila, central Italy, Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

Mechanical diggers remove debris and rubble following a strong earthquake, in the village of Onna, central Italy, Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Sandro Perozzi)

Researcher Luca Pizzino looks at recordings on seismic drums for Pietraquaria, in Italy's central region of Abruzzo, top, and San Donato Val Comino show the traces of a powerful earthquake which shook... (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)

Relatives and friends stand by coffins and bodies covered by white sheets lined up in the village of Onna, central Italy, Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Sandro Perozzi)

Alfredo Gianmaria is carried away by rescuers after a four-story building collapsed following a earthquake in L'Aquila, central Italy, Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

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A strong earthquake struck central Italy early this morning, killing several people as it toppled homes, churches and office buildings. (NewsPoliticsNews)

Early this morning quake hits Rome and Romes periphery (ovojededa)

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At Least 92 Dead as 6.3 Quake Rocks Italy