Dozens of people have been killed in central Italy, after the area was struck by a 6.2-magnitude earthquake. The mayor of the town of Amatrice, which was at the epicenter of the quake, says that the village is completely destroyed. Rescuers, first responders and teams from the Red Cross have been making their way to the areas affected by the disaster, but in some cases, they have had difficulty reaching victims because of the remote locations of some areas.
Back in 2009, another large earthquake killed more than 300 people in central Italy. Following the large earthquake last night, more than 40 tremors and other earthquakes—including a 5.5-magnitude—took place over the next three hours.
Nonprofit and humanitarian organizations in the region are asking for blood donations, as rescuers continue to pull injured victims from the ruble. In a statement from the Vatican, Pope Francis said:
I cannot fail to express my heartfelt sorrow and spiritual closeness to all those present in the zones afflicted. I also express my condolences to those who have lost loved ones, and my spiritual support to those who are anxious and afraid. Hearing the mayor of Amatrice say that the town no longer exists, and learning that there are children among the dead, I am deeply saddened.