L'Aquila quake: dealing with strong aftershocks up to 5.6 Richter

Hundreds of aftershocks of the violent earthquake that shook central Italy and destroyed half of the city of L'Aquila and many small centres in the province were reported thought last night and all day. April 6th ended up with an aftershock around midnight, while a stronger one at around 1:15am was clearly perceived by distance in towns like Rome and Pescara, but also in other distant provinces like Ascoli Piceno.

A couple other strong shocks - were heard outside the L'Aquila area, at 11:26am and around 2:30pm; but the worst one happened at 7:49pm. Recorded by the USGS as a 5.6 Richter quake, this caused at least one death and several other damages, including the collapse of more parts of the Basilica, in Piazza Duomo.

This one was clearly perceived in many other areas of central Italy, spreading more panic and sending people in the streets again.

Personal note: I witnessed personally this one in Pescara, about 70 km from the epicenter. I was in my car and had just entered the garage and stopped the engine. The car moved and outside a metal gate was shaking. We also saw electricity cables moving. Of course people inside houses perceived it even more, being a shock almost as strong as the original one from yesterday morning at 3:32am. Luckily, it didn't last as long, but just a few seconds, maybe 5 or 6, in my humble opinion.

It has also to be said that today, PM Silvio Berlusconi initially refused help from various foreign countries; later in the afternoon, he explained he will accept that later, for specific actions like rebulding certain areas or taking care of the severely damaged artistic and historical buildings. US President Barack Obama was among those calling Berlusconi to offer help.

Update (10:14pm local time):

A girl named Eleonora, in her 20s, was extracted alive and in good conditions from a collapsed building 42 hours after the main shock. Another miraculous rescue had happened earlier today, around 2am, when another young woman named Marta, age 24, was saved after 23 hours under the rubble.

Update (midnight):

More aftershocks heard around 11:30 and 11:40pm.