Quake Strikes Central Italy, Significant Damage Reported

A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck central Italy early Wednesday, with reports of significant damage surfacing quickly in its aftermath.

The mayor of Amatrice told Italy's Ansa news agency that a large portion of that town had been destroyed and that residents had been buried under the rubble of collapsed homes and buildings.

Sergio Pirozzi told state-run RAI radio and Sky TG24 that he needs heavy equipment to clear rubble-clogged streets to get to the injured, the Associated Press reported.

Asked if there were any dead he said: "Look there are houses that aren't here anymore. I hope we get some help," according to the AP.

Fabio Curcio, head of Italy's department of civil protection, said called it a "serious earthquake" that resulted in "wounded" and "serious damage," Ansa reported.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed the quake's location and its magnitude.

The central Apennine region, a mountainous area of central Italy, has seen several significant temblors in the past, according to the USGS.

In April 2009, 6.3 magnitude quake near the town of L'Aquila killed at least 295, injured over 1,000 and left at least 55,000 homeless.

In September 1997, 6.0 magnitude earthquake in the area killed 11 and injured over 100, destroying approximately 80,000 homes in the Marche and Umbria regions.

On January 13, 1915, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake near Avezzano killed approximately 32,000 people.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.