A massive earthquake jolted Italy leaving atleast 50 people dead among which 5 are children.This earthquake struck north of Rome during the night.
The worst affected parts were around the medieval city of L’Aquila, 70 miles (110km) away from the capital. It is speculated that more than 15,000 buildings have been damaged leaving score still trapped under rubble.
Rescue workers have started the rescue attempts to save people who are still trapped under fallen roofs. Italian TV reported six students still trapped in a dormitory in L’Aquila whose roof had collapsed.
Most of the streets are crowded with bloodied and shocked people sobbing and worried for others still trapped.
Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian Prime Minister, cancelled his trip to Russia and declared a state of emergency.
The last major earthquake in central Italy was in the Molise region in October 2002, when 28 people died, including 27 children who perished when their school collapsed.