A 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck central Italy early Wednesday. The quake has killed at least 159 people and injured at least 368 more.
The earthquake was severe enough that the tremors could be heard in Rome, nearly 100 miles away. Approximately 200 aftershocks occurred in the hours after the initial quake.
The city of Amatrice was hit the hardest. Sergio Pirozzi, Amatrice's mayor, said that “half the town no longer exists,” including some buildings that date back to the Middle Ages.
The rescue and recovery effort is underway. The disaster relief nonprofit ShelterBox announced that it had deployed teams to Italy to provide assistance.
ShelterBox delivers the essentials people need to survive and begin to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of a disaster. Since ShelterBox was founded, it has responded to more than 270 disasters and humanitarian crises and provided emergency aid for more than one million people.
Please help those affected by the earthquake in Italy recover by donating today.
