DHAKA: A magnitude 6.2 earthquake has struck central Italy, leaving at least six people dead and others trapped under rubble of collapsed buildings.

The quake hit at 7:36 (Bangladesh time), 76 km (47 miles) southeast of the city of Perugia, at the very shallow depth of 10km (six miles), the USGS said.

Quoting La Repubblica newspaper, BBC reports that some buildings in Rome shook for 20 seconds.

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

However the USGS predicted these could be significant, based on data from previous quakes.

The prime minister's office said the government was in touch with regional heads of the civil protection agency.

The mayor of the town of Amatrice, Sergio Perozzi, told state-run RAI radio that buildings in the town centre had collapsed and the electricity had been cut.

The quake was initially reported as being magnitude 6.4. It was followed by several powerful aftershocks.

In 2009, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake in the Aquila region, which was also felt in the Italian capital, left more than 300 dead.

BDST: 0945/1157 HRS, AUG 24, 2016
SR