A powerful earthquake in the Apennines region near Norcia in central Italy, measured 6.6 bigger than last August’s quake injuring 20, and a further nine were pulled alive from rubble according to the Italian media.

Tectonic forces in the Earth’s crust have pulled apart 3 mm per year about 10^th of the speed at which your nails grow.

The US Geological Survey said the epi-centre of the quake was 68 km south-east of the regional centre of Perugia and close to the small town of Norcia. The Basilica of St Benedict was destroyed by the earthquake, although the monks are all safe. In a statement the Monks at the monastery of San Benedetto –  an international Benedictine community in Norcia tweeted “the monks are safe, but out hearts go out  immediately to those affected and the priests of the monastery are searching for any who may need the Last Rites”.

The quake work up frightened residents at 7:40 local time (06:40GMT). The Mayors of Ussila and Arquata said many buildings had collapsed and another church collapsed in Tolentino where  people were pulled alive from the rubble. The Rome metro has been suspended since the quake and some tourist sites were closed for a few hours.