Updated: 11pm
At least 159 people have been killed and dozens more are missing after a powerful earthquake struck central Italy, reducing ancient towns to rubble.
The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre said the epicentre was northeast of Rome, near Norcia in Umbria, while the US Geological Survey (USGS) put the magnitude at 6.2.
"It was so strong. It seemed the bed was walking across the room by itself with us on it," said Lina Mercantini, of Cesalli, Umbria.
As dawn broke, emergency services and residents were scrambling to rescue people trapped under the ruins of razed old buildings, digging with shovels, bulldozers and even their bare hands to reach survivors.
Dazed and frightened families - some in tears - could be seen huddling in the streets, wrapped in blankets.
Voices could be heard from under the rubble.
Several people were reportedly killed in Pescara del Tronto, in the Marche region, to the east of the quake epicentre.
Seventy-five-year-old Rocco Girardi was brought out alive from the carnage in Arquata del Tronto.
Aleandro Petrucci, the village's mayor, said Pescara was one of "two or three hamlets that have just completely disintegrated".
A family of four, including two children, were confirmed dead in the commune of Accumoli.
Rescuers search for survivors through the rubble of collapsed buildings following an earthquake, in Amatrice, Italy | Image: Alessandra Tarantino / AP/Press Association Images
Sergio Perozzi, mayor of Amatrice, a picturesque town in northern Lazio turned to ruins by the quake, said buildings had collapsed and lights had gone out.
"The town isn't here anymore," he said. "There are voices under the rubble, we have to save the people there."
There were many fatalities, but images also showed survivors - including a woman and a young girl - being pulled alive from beneath the ruins, and dogs rescued.
At the town's badly damaged hospital, patients were reportedly being moved out into the streets.
The town's clock tower stood frozen, showing the moment the deadly quake struck - just after 3.30am local time - while people were asleep.
Italy’s State Forestry Corp released a video showing a rescue worker trying to keep a woman calm who had been trapped under the rubble of her home in the rural town of Capodacqua.
Agostino Severo, a Rome resident visiting Illica, north of Amatrice, said: "We came out to the piazza and it looked like Dante's Inferno. People crying for help."
A man is carried out on a stretcher as a collapsed building is seen in the background following an earthquake, in Amatrice, Italy | Image: Alessandra Tarantino / AP/Press Association Images
Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan said he was "deeply saddened" to hear about the loss of lives.
"I want to convey my deepest condolences to the Italian government and to offer heartfelt sympathy to the families and friends of those affected by the disaster," he said.
"The Irish Embassy in Rome is monitoring the situation and, to date, has received no confirmation of Irish casualties. Anyone with concerns should contact my department on 01 408 2000."
President Michael D Higgins has also sent his condolences to Sergio Mattarella, President of Italy.
