Earthquake of 6.6 magnitude hits Italy, buildings collapse

A woman wears a helmet near damaged buildings on October 28, 2016 in the "red zone", an area cordoned off for safety reasons, in Camerino, where 80 per cent of the houses have been left uninhabitable after two earthquakes hit the region. (Photo: AFP)

Rome: A strong earthquake measuring 6.6 magnitude struck central Italy on Sunday, causing the collapse of more buildings and historic churches in small cities and towns already shaken by tremors in the past week.

The quake measured 7.1 according to an initial estimate by the U.S Geological Survey and was later revised to 6.6, the biggest since almost 300 people were killed in central Italy on Aug. 24 by a quake that levelled several small towns.