Death Toll from Italian Earthquake Reaches 38

The death toll from a devastating earthquake that rocked central Italy on Wednesday morning has reached 38 by the middle of the day, according to local media reports citing official figures of the country's civil protection service.

The authorities fear that the number of the victims would rise further with at least 35 people dead in the town of Amatrice alone.

Dozens of people are feared trapped under the rubble.

The quake measured 6.2 on the Richter scale, according to the US Geological Survey. The disaster struck at 3.36am, in Norcia, a town south of Perugia, bringing buildings crashing down to the ground. A series of strong aftershocks followed.

The towns of Amatrice and Accumuli in the northern Lazio region were devastated, along with Arquata and Pescara del Tronto, in the eastern region of Marche.