Mayor of #Italia/n town of #Amatrice says people are buried under debris and town 'no longer exists'

Mayor of #Italia/n town of #Amatrice says people are buried under debris and town 'no longer exists'

The shaking appears to have woken up quite a few residents in central Italy. Besides Rome,aftershocks were also felt in Florence. 

Jenny Parkinson, a Rome resident, wrote on Twitter the building she was inside “swayed for what seemed an age – bed rocking, lightshades swinging. Horrid!”

At least 6 dead in Central Italy as quake devastates towns – reports Italy Earthquake. 

The mayor of Amatrice near Rieti, Sergio Perozzi, told state-run RAI Radio 1 that buildings had been destroyed in the city centre and that the lights had gone out.

He said he was unable to get in touch with emergency responders or reach the hospital.

"What can I tell you? It's a tragedy," he said.

Many buildings in towns near the epicentre had crumbled, Mr Perozzi toldRaiNews.

"It's a drama, half of our town is destroyed, there are people under the debris," he said.

He told La Repubblica that at least two people were dead.

"Our town has gone. There are people under the rubble, I fear there will be many dead," he said.