2 Powerful Earthquakes Hit Central Italy

2 Powerful Earthquakes Hit Central Italy: Two powerful earthquakes have hit central Italy, damaging buildings and sending scared residents into the streets on Wednesday, October 26, 2016.

A 5.5 magnitude quake, which struck around 1910 local time (1710 GMT) near Visso in Macerata province, was followed two hours later by a 6.1 magnitude tremor in the same area, official said.

It was gathered that only one person was hurt, but there were no immediate reports of deaths.

The US Geological Survey said both earthquakes were shallow.

Visso is about 110 miles northeast of Rome and 50 miles north of Amatrice, the small town that lost about 270 residents when a magnitude-6.2 quake hit on August 24, 2016. Another 20 people were killed in nearby towns.

“We don’t have any reported victims, but we’re in the dark and under a downpour,” said Mauro Falcucci, the mayor of the small town of Castelsantangelo sul Nera, according to state news agency ANSA.

“We’re waiting for the Civil Protection Department to bring us lighting towers.”

Police have offered those living in tent camps the opportunity to stay farther away tonight as the rain falls.

“It was a very strong earthquake, apocalyptic,” Marco Rinaldi, mayor of Ussita to the east of Visso, told Italy’s Ansa news agency, referring to the second earthquake.

“People are screaming on the street and now we are without lights.”

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