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Italian Earthquakes Reshape Region, Lower Land


FILE - An aerial view of Castelluccio di Norcia the day after a strong earthquake hit central Italy, Oct. 31, 2016.
FILE - An aerial view of Castelluccio di Norcia the day after a strong earthquake hit central Italy, Oct. 31, 2016.

A series of earthquakes that rocked central Italy last week reshaped more than 600 square km (230 square miles) of land, lowering areas around the epicenter by up to 70 cm (28 inches), according to data released Monday.

Earthquakes measuring 5.5 and 6.1 hit the area Oct. 26, followed by a 6.6 magnitude quake Oct. 30, the biggest tremor to strike Italy for 36 years.

Although no one died in the multiple quakes, dozens of buildings collapsed and Italy's National Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) said satellite data showed significant changes to the surrounding land formation.

The INGV said territory around the town of Castelluccio di Norcia, which is famous for its lentils, bore the brunt of the tremor, with huge horizontal scars opening up on the surrounding mountains and land levels collapsing by up to 70 cm.

Much of the town is now out of bounds, with approach roads ripped up by the force of the quakes.

The area was hit by an initial earthquake Aug. 24, which killed 300 people — most of them in the nearby town of Amatrice.

Since then, the INGV said some 21,600 aftershocks had battered the region, driving most residents from their homes.

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    Reuters

    Reuters is a news agency founded in 1851 and owned by the Thomson Reuters Corporation based in Toronto, Canada. One of the world's largest wire services, it provides financial news as well as international coverage in over 16 languages to more than 1000 newspapers and 750 broadcasters around the globe.

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