Earthquake in Italy: Magnitude 5.0 strikes central Italy

A strong earthquake measuring 5.0 magnitude struck Central Italy in the early hours of Thursday in the same region hit by recent strong quakes last week, the US Geological Survey said.

A magnitude 5.0 earthquake is considered moderate and is capable of causing considerable damage. The shallow depth would have intensified the shaking at the surface.

It said the temblor was very shallow, only 6.2 miles (10 km) deep, and was centered 32 miles (51.5 km) southeast of Perugia. 

The National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology (INGV) places the the earthquake's epicentre in Pieve Torina (Macerata) at a depth of 8km, and rates the magnitude as 4.8.