WorldAMATRICE, AFP -A powerful 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck central Italy in the early hours of Wednesday, devastating mountain villages and leaving at least five people dead. The first two confirmed victims were an elderly couple whose home collapsed in Pescara del Tronto in the Marche region, according to local police. The first quake struck shortly after 3.30 am (0130 GMT), according to the United States Geological Survey, and a 5.4 magnitude aftershock followed an hour later. That disaster led to lengthy recriminations over lax building controls and the failure of authorities to warn residents that a quake could be imminent. Another quake hit the northern Emilia Romagna region in May 2012, when two violent shocks 10 days apart left 23 people dead and 14,000 others homeless.

Source: Sunday Times August 24, 2016 06:00 UTC