Rome metro evacuated as powerful earthquakes rock

The metro system and some
schools in Italy's capital, Rome, were being
evacuated Wednesday following a series of
powerful earthquakes that struck the heart of the
country.
An initial 5.3-magnitude quake hit central Italy 7
kilometers (4.3 miles) west-northwest of Amatrice,
a town devastated by powerful temblors last year,
the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported.
While the epicenter was 90 kilometers northeast of
Rome, the quake was felt strongly in the capital,

sending people running from buildings in a panic.
It struck at 10:25 am (4:25 am ET) at a shallow
depth of 10 kilometers and has been followed by
eight aftershocks in the same area, including one
as strong as 5.7, the USGS reported.
There are no immediate reports of casualties or
damage but firefighters told thomasloaded that heavy snow
blocking roads has hampered their initial
assessment.