Rescuers are frantically searching for survivors after the disaster – felt 105 miles away in Rome – which claimed the life of a baby girl
At least 37 people have been killed – including a baby girl – after an “apocalyptic” earthquake destroyed medieval towns and villages in Italy overnight.
Panicked residents were sent fleeing into the streets as the powerful quake brought buildings crashing to the ground early this morning.
Today rescuers have been seen pulling bloodied victims to safety and frantically digging for survivors with their bare hands as screams can be heard from under the rubble.
The US Geological Survey said it was a 6.2 magnitude quake that hit near the town of Norcia, in the region of Umbria, at 3.36am local time.
Victims described “apocalyptic” scenes in towns and villages near Umbria’s capital city of Perugia – which is especially popular with British holidaymakers.
Italian agency Ansa said the worst hit area was Amatrice, where at least 11 have died, after the small town was “split in two.”
Tourists even said they felt the terrifying shock more than 100 miles away in Rome after the quake is believed to have devastated the areas of Accumoli, Amatrice, Posta and Arquata del Tronto.
Among the missing in Amatrice are believed to be six refugees from Afghanistan – two of which have been named as Sultana, 26, and Hahmed, 27 – three nuns and four elderly guests at a local boarding house.
Paramedics are also desperately trying to save six-year-old twin girls pulled from the rubble earlier.
Meanwhile tourists were reported to be trapped in the remains of the town’s Hotel Roma – but it is not yet clear whether there are an British victims.
A hospital in the mountain town also had to be evacuated due to structural damage and was declared non-operational, but none of the patients were believed to be injured.
An elderly couple died after their home collapsed in nearby Pescara del Tronto, in the Marche region, where a baby was reportedly rescued from the wreckage.
British mum Eve Read, from London, was holidaying with her family around 20 miles away from the epicentre of the disaster and was separated from her children while it was happening.