1/10 This aerial photo shows the historical part of the town of Amatrice, central Italy, after an earthquake, Wednesday, 24 August, 2016.

PTI

2/10 Rescuers search a crumbled building in Arcuata del Tronto, central Italy, where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday, 24 August, 2016. The quake was felt across a broad section of central Italy, including the capital Rome where people in homes in the historic center felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks.

PTI

3/10 A Virgin Mary statue stands debris ruins in the Italian central town of Pescara del Tronto, on August 24, 2016 after a powerful earthquake rocked central Italy.

Marco Zeppetella/AFP

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4/10 Rescue and emergency services personnel searches for victims with a dog in the central Italian village of Amatrice, on 24 August, 2016 after a powerful earthquake rocked central Italy.

Filippo Monteforte/AFP

5/10 Rescuers carry a man on a stretcher among damaged buildings after a strong earthquake hit central Italy, in Amatrice on 24 August, 2016.

Filippo Monteforte/AFP

6/10 Rescuers and firemen inspect the rubble of buildings in Amatrice on August 24, 2016 after a powerful earthquake rocked central Italy.

Filippo Monteforte/AFP

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7/10 Residents reacts among the rubble after a strong earthquake hit Amatrice on 24 August, 2016.

Filippo Monteforte/AFP

8/10 People walk past an earthquake damaged church during search and rescue operations in Amatrice on 24 August, 2016 after a powerful earthquake rocked central Italy.

Filippo Monteforte/AFP

9/10 A man pushes a stroller among damaged buildings after a strong earthquake hit central Italy, in Amatrice on 24 August, 2016.

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10/10 Firemen and rescuers inspect damaged buildings in Amatrice on August 24, 2016 after a powerful earthquake rocked central Italy.

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In pics: Earthquake in Italy kills 247, shatters town

Catch Team @CatchNews | Updated on: 25 August 2016, 15:19 IST

A strong earthquake measuring 6.2 on the richter scale, rocked the mountainous stretch of central Italy early Wednesday, killing at least 247 people and trapping scores under debris.

More than 1,000 have been displaced. Many settlements are only accessible by small roads, posing a challenge for authorities moving in heavy machinery to disaster sites.

The towns at the epicenter of the quake, Amatrice, Accumoli and Arquata del Tronto, are scenes of devastation.

Facebook activated its safety check features for the region, which allows users to mark themselves as safe and quickly alert friends and family after a crisis or a natural disaster.

Italy is certainly no stranger to such deadly earthquakes. In April 2009, a magnitude of 6.3 earthquake hit the Aquila region, killing 295, while in May 2012, a pair of earthquakes killed dozens of people in the northern part of Italy.

The death toll is expected to rise as rescue teams continues to work through the rubble with regular aftershocks in different towns of Italy.

Text by Sehar Qazi