Earthquake strikes city near Rome

At least 20 people have been killed in a powerful earthquake that struck central Italy and at least 30 people remain unaccounted for as a massive search for the trapped is under way. The 6.3-magnitude quake struck in the early hours close to the medieval city of L'Aquila, 60 miles from Rome. It is estimated that between 3,000 to 10,000 buildings in the city may have been damaged and that thousands of people could have been made homeless. A university dormitory, churches and a bell tower are believed to be among the buildings that had collapsed. The earthquake happened at 03:32 (01:32 GMT), hours after a 4.6-magnitude tremor shook the area but caused no reported damage. Thousands of the city's 70,000 residents ran into the streets in panic during the 30 second tremor.