Entire towns have been reduced to rubble after a powerful earthquake devastated a string of mountain towns in central Italy Wednesday, killing at least 159 and leaving thousands homeless.
READ MORE: At least 159 dead as strong earthquake hits central Italy, brings down buildings
The magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck in the early hours of the morning about 140 kilometres east of Rome, as people’s homes crumbled around them.
“The whole ceiling fell but did not hit me,” said Amatrice resident Maria Gianni. “I just managed to put a pillow on my head and I wasn’t hit luckily, just slightly injured my leg.”
READ MORE: ‘There are voices under the rubble’: Scores still missing after Italy earthquake
The hardest-hit towns were the tiny towns of Amatrice and Accumoli near Rieti, some 100 km northeast of Rome, and Pescara del Tronto some 25 km further east. The centre of Amatrice was devastated. The town, which was voted as one of Italy‘s most beautiful historic towns just last year, was flattened by the quake; an image one survivor described as a scene from Dante’s Inferno – otherwise known as the descent through hell.
Here is a look at just how much devastation the earthquake has caused:
A view of Amatrice’s main street, Corso Umberto I, and the bell tower before the earthquake and after.
Shops along Corso Umberto I, Amatrice, before and after.
A view of buildings in Arquata del Tronto, before and after.
A church in Amatrice — now the setting of a rescue operation.
Gallery: Devastating imagines of loss emerge from Italy following earthquake
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