Following an earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter Scale that struck central Italy this morning at 7:40 a.m. local time?the fourth to hit this part of the country in three months?a number of structures have collapsed entirely or been severely damaged. While no deaths have been reported at this time, the BBC suggests that twenty people have been injured.

Inspections underway in Rome. Image via La Repubblica (Roma)

Following an earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter Scale that struck central Italy this morning at 7:40 a.m. local time?the fourth to hit this part of the country in three months?a number of structures have collapsed entirely or been severely damaged. While no deaths have been reported at this time, the BBC suggests that twenty people have been injured.This latest tragedy follows an earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter Scale which hit a nearby region in August of this year, killing 300 and causing widespread devastation to towns and villages. It is being suggested that the evacuation of buildings that were deemed vulnerable to the ongoing seismic activity in the region last week may have saved lives.Structural Damage Near the EpicenterReports from its inhabitants verify that the Basilica of St. Benedict and parts of the monastery in Norcia has been almost entirely razed to the ground. Reports suggest that no one has been killed by the collapse.The Basilica of St. Benedict is destroyed, flattened by most recent earthquake. #Terremot...