Huge earthquake hits central Italy northeast of Rome

[FightingIrish]

Source: Reuters

06 Apr 2009 01:46:02 GMT
Source: Reuters
WASHINGTON, April 5 (Reuters) - A 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Italy on Sunday about 53 miles (85 km) northeast of Rome, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. (Washington World Desk, [phone])

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N052379.htm

[tekisui]

1. Thanks, I am following this now.

[FightingIrish]

2. Follow up

La Repubblica reports that drivers in Rome saw the traffic signals swinging. RAI reports that the citizens of l'Aquila, five miles from the epicenter, are all in the streets, awakened at 3:32 AM.

They are now reporting structures destroyed in L'Aquila and casualties are feared

[CreekDog]

3. USGS is saying 6.3 and looks to be about 40 miles east of Rome

http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/bulletin/neic_fcaf_l.html

[bkkyosemite]

4. USGS and other sites say it was 6.3, 58 to 60 miles NE of Rome

[CreekDog]

5. CNN broke in to say "no injuries, no serious damage"

tenatively.

[FightingIrish]

28. Clearly CNN is full of shit.

They didn't even have the location of the damage correct, "Damage was concentrated about 120 miles from the city of L'Aquila." The worst damage was in the center of l'Aquila.

[CreekDog]

30. yes, very true, but you are doing a terrific job here providing news and details

:applause:

[FightingIrish]

6. RAI television reports a church in the historic center of l'Aquila has

collapsed. Power and telephone have been interrupted in the province.

They are also reporting the partial collapse of a university dormitory.

[Davis_X_Machina]

8. This happened in Assisi in '97. Cathedral roof fell down

Thirty years ago there was a really bad one in Avellino -- seven and change. Killed thousands.

[MADem]

38. That was horrible--I remember that. nt

[Haole Girl]

7. I hope everyone is alright

I'm worried, with all the old structures there. And there are so many visitors there, too, with Easter week.

[aquart]

18. The old structures aren't the ones to worry about.

We already know they last. It's the new ones.

[Violet_Crumble]

44. Actually, they are...

Italy introduced building codes so that new buildings are supposed to be constructed so they have some degree of earthquake resistance. It's the old structures that are the worry. They weren't designed or built to resist earthquakes, and if you've ever seen an old building in Italy that's been through earthquakes, they do tend to suffer from the effects...

[EFerrari]

9. map of Italy

[FightingIrish]

10. Another aftershock three minutes ago - felt in Rome

[FightingIrish]

11. They are now reporting structures destroyed in Paganica

They are suggesting that there are victims under the rubble.

They just reported one death

Numerous people trapped in houses in the historic center of l'Aquila

[FightingIrish]

12. A house on Via XX Settembre in l'Aquila has totally collapsed

There are victims trapped in the rubble (From RAI Television on the phone with a man in the Piazza del Duomo)

The man on the phone was a city councilman. He reported may wounded in the streets and much ambulance traffic.

RAI is interviewing a director of emergency services. He says the situation is critical and they are asking people to stay clear of the roads into l'Aquila.

RAI is now showing live video from l'Aquila. It looks bad.

Electricity has been cut to 15,000 people in l'Aquila.

They are interviewing an architect in Paganica. She says it is very grave and the streets ae blocked by collapsed structures. Much of the city is medieval construction with unreinforced masonry.

They are saying the situation extremely grave in the town of Fossa, six miles southeast of l'Aquila

They have confirmed "victims". They are digging for survivors in the partially collapsed dormitory. The Church of the Holy Spirit has been damaged. The entire city is covered with dust from the falling masonry.

[Haole Girl]

13. Thank you for the updates

It's a little difficult to find news about it.

[havocmom]

24. here is a good interactive site for quakes

http://www.iris.edu/seismon/

click on a region for larger graphic with easier to read event info where there are clusters (this one already had 2 aftershocks over 4.

[FightingIrish]

16. Two confirmed dead in Fossa

[natasha moodley]

54. hello

Hi

Are you living in Italy? Wanted an update about the earthquake news.

[FightingIrish]

56. I live in Oregon but my heart is always in Italy

I lived in and near Torino years ago and have many friends in Italy, but none near the quake. I should be working but I can't stop checking the news.

[Obamarama]

14. FIghting Irish, my partner is in Rocca di Mezzo visiting family. It's very close to Aquila.

Of course all I can find on CNN is the fucking Octomom. I can't get through to his international cell phone, he should have called me by now and I can't get through to his family's land line. Can you let me know if you hear anything about Rocca di Mezzo?

[FightingIrish]

15. I'll keep watching and post if I hear anything

[FightingIrish]

17. Eight persons missing in San Demetrio

RAI will have an estimate of fatalities soon.

There is damage also in Pescara.

Columns of emergency response vehicles are headed toward the region of Abruzzo from other parts of Italy.

Schools in Abruzzo will be closed Monday. Some viaducts are closed until they can be examined by engineers.

[Obamarama]

19. San Demetrio is just over the mountain from Rocca di Mezzo. I'm really starting to worry now.

Trying to stay calm, trying to stay calm, trying to stay calm.....

[FightingIrish]

20. San Demetrio is about six miles closer to the epicenter

I hope that means less damage in Rocca di Mezzo.

[Ztarbod]

21. What adjective will you use for a real big earthquake?

[Haole Girl]

22. Um...

It is the headline, in case you didn't read it: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N052379.htm

[FightingIrish]

23. Another aftershock, 4.4

An orphanage in l'Aquila has collapsed. Four children dead in the collapse of a house in the center of the city. Three others believed buried in the same collapse.

120,000 out of their homes.

Three houses collapsed in Via Sturzo, a newer zone of l'Aquila

Serious damage to the Hotel Duca d'Abruzzi

RAI reporting damage to all of lAquila's historic monuments. Both basilicas heavily damaged.

A group of senior citizens rescued from the rubble by l'Aquila rugby players.

[Obamarama]

26. This is not good. Not good at all. Hotel Duca is a newer hotel, not in one of the old buidlings.

I know this hotel. We've not stayed there, but I know where it is because we've had lunch there. They have a restaurant with a beautiful outdoor terrace. It's a multi story building, I'd say 7 or 8 stories maybe...and similar to one of our American multi-story, non-descript cookie cutter hotels. It is not in the older section, where you would expect the most damage.

[FightingIrish]

32. They are now saying it was completely destroyed

[ourbluenation]

25. more info...

At least six people have died, including four children, and others are trapped after a 6.3 magnitude earthquake rocked central Italy overnight Monday.

The quake struck 53 miles northeast of Rome, and was felt in most of central Italy, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Some residents in the old town of l'Aquila, east of Rome in the mountainous Abruzzo region, ran out into the streets as buildings in the centre of the town collapsed.

"A students' hall of residence has collapsed and emergency services say people are trapped there," Journalist Nick Pisa told Sky News. "A church bell town has also collapsed. One local council member has described the centre of the town being strewn with rubble and masonry. He could hear people calling for help.

"He said he had been told that a man and a woman had been killed but that is unconfirmed.

"People are being told not to go to the area - not to block the roads to the area."

People in Rome were woken by the quake at 3.30am local time. Furniture rattled and car alarms went off.

Sky News viewer John Murray, who lives 60 kilometres north of Rome, said: "My house started to shake — it went on for about 30 seconds. I ran outside. The dogs were making a terrific sound but everything seemed ok.

"I went back inside and the water and electricity was working. I haven't felt any aftershocks yet."

Rafael Abreu, of the U.S. Geological Survey, told Sky News the quake happened at 3.32 a.m. local time.

"This is a significant earthquake," he said. "This is a shallow quake but there is definitely a possibility of damage and even injuries. It is going to depend on what type of buildings are in the area. We haven't had any information yet coming from the epicenter area."

The quake was the latest and strongest in a series to hit the l'Aquila area on Sunday and Monday.

Earthquakes can be particularly dangerous in parts of Italy where centuries-old buildings are left in disrepair.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,512623,00.html

[FightingIrish]

27. The Carabinieri have confirmed nine dead. They expect tens

of fatalities. The dead are five at Castelnuovo, one at Poggio Picenze,one at Tormintarte and two in Fossa, including a three year old girl.

The historic center of Castelnuovo, 23 miles from the epicenter, has been "completely destroyed"

They are now evacuating hospitals in l'Aquila. The daylight videos look much worse than what was shown earlier.

A man is now reporting that there were seven or eight families in the palazzo that totally collapsed on Via XX Settembre. They are trying to dig them out by hand.

The highway from Rome to Abruzzo has been closed.

They estimate tens of thousands of buildings damaged. A call has gone out for volunteers from all parts of Italy.

[Obamarama]

29. GOOD NEWS - only minor damage in Rocca di Mezzo

My partner's uncle was able to call my partner's sister in Washington D.C using a friend's satellite phone. He reports minor damage there and that everyone is okay.

Thanks for the updates, Fighting Irish.

[FightingIrish]

31. Great News. Now I can get ready for bed.

[FightingIrish]

33. The Carabinieri have confirmed 14 dead, 30 missing.

[FightingIrish]

35. They just raised the fatalities to 16. CNN reporting 2

RAI is reporting that there may be six students in the collapsed dormitory.

Now they are saying that they have recovered the body of one student and believe there are tens more in the rubble.

Students from the building say that there are six still in the rubble.

[FightingIrish]

37. Italian Emergency Services says 17 dead, 40 missing

CNN still reporting, "at least two dead"

[Garbo 2004]

34. RAI News (Italy) live stream available here:

http://wwitv.com/portal.htm?http://wwitv.com/television/index.html?http://wwitv.com/television/104.htm

[LittleGirl]

40. thanks for the link

eom

[FightingIrish]

36. Towns hit hard outside of l'Aquila area Roio Poggio, Massa, Paganica and Fossa

[betoncat]

42. Bazzano

does anyone know how Bazzano faired? We have a house there and wanting to go down, but not sure it is good idea. Anyone know of any live or regularly updated satellite images of the area? We are not able to reach our family in L'Aquila and holding our breath to hear from them. Does anyone have a link to a site with updated info on the autostrada opening/closings?

Thanks.... very tragic.

[Maria Elena]

60. Bazzano

Have you received any responses to your inquiry on Bazzano and
the extent of the damage caused by the earthquake? Has the
church of Santa Giusta been damaged? My family name is Mariani
and I know there were several Mariani’s in Bazzano, how many
are left there I don’t know.  We lost contact after my father
died . I would appreciate any news received. Thank you 

[muriel_volestrangler]

39. Death toll now up to 27

with more misssing: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE53506120090406

BBC radio says several villages nearer the epicentre than L'Aquila are cut off by landslides, so their state is not well known yet.

[dipsydoodle]

41. Pictures up on BBC News

Powerful Italian quake kills many

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/default.stm

Africa saying hello to Europe could be extremely dangerous were it to persist.

[Haole Girl]

45. Thanks for the link. (nt)

[natasha moodley]

43. concerned parent in south africa

Hi

My 14 year old daughter is going to be travelling to Rome on the 9th April, this thursday. I wanted to know if it is still safe to do so. It is a school excursion.

I also would like to know how far is central Rome ( via Goito ) from the earthquake area(L'Aquila).

She would also be travelling to Naples Pompei and Florence.

Please could someone reply.

Desperate Mother
South Africa

[Haole Girl]

46. That's a tough one

Earthquakes are rare. And it sounds like an opportunity of a lifetime, as they say.

As for the geography, here is a link of the distance:

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2009fcaf.php

[natasha moodley]

49. thanks

thanks for replying to my post.

really appreciate the help.

south africa

[Haole Girl]

50. You're welcome

Though I don't think I helped much.

Welcome to DU, btw. :hi:

[natasha moodley]

52. Good to hear from you

An excellent way of keeping in touch with people around the world.

Where are u from?

[Haole Girl]

57. I'm not really "from" anywhere

Born in Madrid, Spain on a USAF base. Grew up as a military brat and lived all over the states before I moved to Texas in 1989. Can't believe I've stayed here this long. If I could live anywhere, my first choice would be Hawaii.

[rocktivity]

47. I wonder what God is punishing the Catholics for

:eyes:
rocktivity

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

48. Nothing, considering most Italians are nominally Catholic

Sure, there are Catholic fundies, especially in the southern parts, but I guarantee you that there are very few church-goers in Italy. Of all my classmates (kindergarten through part of high school), there have been no Catholics and few church-goers or believers in any sense of the word.

[natasha moodley]

51. updates of earthquake

are there any updates about the earthquake news.

[FightingIrish]

53. The death toll is now over 150 with1,500 injured

There are 70,000 homeless.

The good new is that the six students buried in their dormitory were all rescued alive after thirteen hours under the rubble.

[natasha moodley]

55. thanks for the update

are you living nearby where this all took place?

[natasha moodley]

58. distance to central rome

Do you have an idea how far is L'Aquila from central Rome?

[FightingIrish]

59. It's about 57 miles straight line distance.

I'm not sure about highway miles.