A strong earthquake struck central Italy in the early hours Monday morning, killing at least 13 people, including five children, officials and media reports said.
At least eight people were reported missing in the quake-stricken area, the ANSA news agency reported.
ANSA also reported that the quake, which hit at 03:32 a.m. local time (0232 GMT), caused the collapse of some old buildings in L'Aquila, where the epicenter was located.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake had a magnitude of 6.3, but Italy's geophysics authorities put the magnitude at 5.8.
In L'Aguila, some 95 km northeast of Rome, the dome of a church collapsed and the city's cathedral was also damaged, ANSA reported.
The temblor has caused panic among residents in L'Aguila and sent many of them to flee their houses. It was felt in Rome and much of the country.
State television RAI said an elderly woman and a child had been killed in a village east of Rome in the Abruzzo region. ANSA said four children died in L'Aquila after their houses collapsed.
Italian civil protection officials, quoted by Italian media, have warned that thousands of people could be left homeless after the earth movement.
The quake came just several hours after a 4.6-magnitude tremor hit north central Italy Sunday night, which left no damage or injuries.
Source: Xinhua
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