Three earthquakes hits central Italy

A series of three earthquakes hit central Italy on Wednesday in less than an hour shaking buildings in Rome and Florence. According to reports from Italy, the quake shook building in the same region that suffered a series of deadly quakes in 2016 where almost 300 people were killed.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the first quake was measured with a preliminary magnitude of 5.3, placing the epicentre in Central Italy at a depth of six miles (10km). A second quake with a magnitude of 5.7 hit the same area about 50 minutes later, and 10 minutes later a third was measured at magnitude 5.3 as aftershocks continued to hit the area.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damages.

Reports from Rome had it that metro system was shut as a precaution and school children asked to go home.