Scores die as central Italy hit by earthquake

At least 50 people, including several children, are known to have died in a large earthquake which hit the mountainous Abruzzo region of central Italy at 3.30 am today.

The medieval city of L'Aquila, the regional capital, bore the brunt of the quake, with thousands of buildings damaged and many people trapped in the rubble. The quake, which could be felt more than 60 miles away in Rome, measured 6.3 on the Richter scale, according to the US Geological Survey.

Rafael Abreu of the USGS said it was the second quake in the region over the weekend - the earlier one, on Sunday was much less severe at 4.6 on the Richter scale - and that residents should prepare for after-shocks.

There were reported to be scenes of panic in L'Aquila. Massimo Cialente, the city mayor, said some 100,000 people had left their homes. There were fears that the death toll would rise considerably as more rescue workers reach the collapsed and damaged buildings.

The city is not one of Italy's most famous or glorious. But it is home to 70,000 people and a university, well known for its engineering faculty: one of the first buildings to be reported destroyed was a university dormitory.

Historic buildings at risk from the quake include the massive church of Santa Maria di Collemaggio, with its pink and white stone façade, and the National Museum housed in the 16th century castle, which famously contains the remains of a prehistoric elephant. However, both survived the earthquake which destroyed much of the city in 1703.