Just two months after a powerful earthquake devastated central Italy on Aug. 24, a pair of strong aftershocks struck the same area late Wednesday. Amatrice, about 140 km east of Rome, was one of the hardest-hit towns during the original quake in August. The majority of the once-beautiful buildings from the Middle Ages were reduced to rubble, except for one symbolic structure known as the “Red Mansion.” Standing tall amongst the ruins, the four-storey building had become a sign of hope for many residents.
The “Red Mansion” finally collapsed following Wednesday’s forceful aftershocks.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the first 5.4-magnitude quake struck at 5:10 p.m. local time about 80 km north of where the August quake hit. Two hours later, the area suffered a second, stronger 6.1-magnitute aftershock. The two temblors were actually aftershocks of the initial Aug. 24 quake. As of Thursday morning, there have been no reports of serious injuries or signs that anyone has been trapped in the debris.
Amatrice wasn’t the only town that felt the force of the aftershocks. Other towns in central Italy, such as Norcia and Camerino, also experienced significant damage with many old churches and structures crumbling from the shaking.
Italy’s fire and rescue agency, Vigili del Fuoco, posted a video to their Twitter account on Thursday morning showing what remained of Amatrice’s “Red Mansion.” The camera pans across a scene of utter destruction. Piles of debris appear to be all that’s left of the once-symbolic building.
Despite the renewed devastation in Amatrice, the video ends on a hopeful note. The aging clock tower in the middle of the town’s square is shown standing solidly above the rubble below.
