Strong earthquake strikes central Italy
An earthquake measuring 6.6 magnitude has struck central Italy this morning.
The earthquake hit at around 7:40am local time and, its epicentre, according to data from the US Geological Survey, was near Norcia, which is approximately 70 miles northeast of Rome.
There have been no reports of casualties at time of writing, although local media and residents have reported a substantial amount of damage to buildings in the region, including to the historic Basilica of St. Benedict. The region has been shaken by tremors in the last week.
https://twitter.com/monksofnorcia/status/792625867079942144
The country was also hit by a 6.2 magnitude earthquake in August, which unfortunately left hundreds of people dead.
Italy sits on two fault lines, meaning it is one of the countries in Europe most prone to seismic activity.