Accumoli, Italy, Aug 24 (Reuters): A powerful earthquake devastated a string of mountainous towns in central Italy on Wednesday, trapping residents under piles of rubble, killing at least 38 people and leaving thousands homeless. The quake hit during the summer when the area, usually sparsely populated, hosts large numbers of holidaymakers. A spokeswoman for the civil protection department, Immacolata Postiglione, said the dead were in Amatrice, Accumoli and other villages including Pescara del Tronto and Arquata del Tronto. Residents of Rome were woken by the tremors, which rattled furniture, swayed lights and set off car alarms in most of central Italy. Also read: Toll in Italy quake mounts to 20?

Source: The Telegraph August 24, 2016 12:11 UTC