Powerful Earthquake in Italy Kills at Least 50

FoxNews.com

L'AQUILA, Italy —  A powerful earthquake struck central Italy early Monday, killing at least 50 people, causing entire blocks of buildings to collapse as residents slept inside and leaving thousands of people homeless, officials said.

In the city of L'Aquila, near the epicenter of the quake, twisted steel supports, slabs of walls, furniture and wire fences were strewn about the streets and a gray dust carpeted sidewalks, cars and residents alike.

Officials said the death toll was likely to rise as rescue crews clawed through the debris of fallen homes, searching for the dozens of people still unaccounted for.