Italy quake survivors in pain and shock

Survivors of the the quake which struck the central part of Italy on Wednesday are still to recover from feelings of pain and shock after the tragic incident.

The powerful quake was felt across a broad area.

The hardest hit areas are in ruins with only few buildings left standing.

More than 100 people are missing, and an unestimated number believed trapped in the rubble. Emergency workers are combing through debris as rescue efforts continue.

“I lost many of my friends,” a visibly shocked survivor said.

“We were sleeping. Suddenly we heard a horrifying sound. Then the bed started to shake; all the doors on the cabinets opened and started to shake as well; all the walls collapsed, and the windows shattered. It was horrifying,” another added.

The survivors were saved by Italian soldiers, police and aid workers who rushed to rescue those trapped under the rubble.

“We learned from the rescuers that there are people buried under rubble. So in the next few hours, the most important and urgent thing is to free the survivors,” the head of the international relations Unit of Italy’s civil protection department said.

The victims are not allowed to go back to their damaged homes and have been placed in a local stadium which will serve as their temporary shelter.