AMATRICE, ITALY — A magnitude-6.2 earthquake struck central Italy early Wednesday, killing at least 159 people. Many more are still believed buried under the rubble. <br /> <br />According to the BBC, the origin of the earthquake was about 100 km northeast of Rome. Nearby historic towns of Amatrice, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto were torn apart. <br /> <br />“The town is no more,” Amatrice Mayor Sergio Pirozzi told CNN affiliate Rai of the village. Amatrice, populated by about 2,000 people, has a history of more than 700 years. <br /> <br />The quake struck at 3:36 a.m. local time while many people were still asleep. Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said more than 200 aftershocks were recorded.
