Spoleto, Italy, Aug 24, 2016 / 15:56 pm
While the number of victims of the earthquake that hit central Italy in the early hours of Wednesday climbs, the gestures of generosity and aid for those affected have multiplied.
At approximately 3:30 am Aug. 24, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck roughly six miles southeast of Norcia in central Italy. Over the next several hours, nearly 200 aftershocks shook the regions of Umbria, Lazio, and Marche, leaving towns throughout the area devastated.
So far, at least 159 people have been killed, according to Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi. More than 360 are injured; most of the victims are from the towns of Amatrice, Accumoli, Arquata del Tronto, and Pescara del Tronto – all of which have been reduced to rubble.
Among those affected by the disaster are the Benedictine monks of Norcia. They are all safe, but their buildings are damaged, and the community has announced that they will transfer to Rome for a time as a precautionary measure.