Another strong earthquake in central Italy
 

We've had two strong earthquakes this evening, the first at 7:15 PM, 5.2 on the Richter scale, and the second at 9:20, 6.2 on the Richter scale, These had their epicenter in Le Marche, in the province of Macerata, near the town of Visso, north of the zone that was hit by the earthquake in August. We felt both of them at our home in the province of Ancona, but the second one was much stronger and lasted longer. We were in southern Le Marche in August, much closer to the affected zone, and we felt that much more.

It's said that both quakes were felt in Rome and the second was even felt in Naples.

The zone where it happened is very sparsely populated, and it was dark. Phone service is pretty much knocked out, and cell reception is never great in that area. So far there are no reports of deaths, but no one has yet been able to report from the isolated areas near the epicenter,

I am glad to hear from you as I immediately thought of you, as you have been so helpful in forming our plans for our trip there next fall.

I just saw pictures. It looks very bad. Raining hard and they are having a hard time rescuing people.

hoping, and let us know how best to help, according to local needs/news??

There has been only one death mentioned, of an elderly man, already very ill, who had a heart attack. The problem is mainly that about 3000 people can't, for now, enter their homes.

Because the area is sparsely populated, and because the first quake sent everyone outdoors, when the stronger shock came, there were very few people indoors.

We've heard that our summer home appears from the outside not to be damaged. There wasn't much damage in the town. In nearby Camerino, there was quite a lot of damage. A local man who looks after our house when we're away has said he'll go inside today to see if there was damage inside.

Our thoughts are with you and all of those affected!!!