The magnitude 6 quake hit especially hard in the tourist-filled towns of Amatrice and Accumoli.  In the summer, vacationers seek out the region to escape the heat of Rome and other areas.
 
A geologist in Poland says slow but constant under-surface movement of the African Plate toward Europe caused the quake.  Jerzy Zaba of Silesian University says a wedge-shaped front of the plate is pressing into the Eurasian Plate and pushing into regions like Italy.
 
Rescuers are using shovels, bulldozers and even their bare hands to dig out victims.  For those that made it out there are stories of miracles.  Maria Gianni explained "The whole ceiling fell but did not hit me.  I just managed to put a pillow on my head and I wasn't hit."
 
This latest quake is already being compared to one in 2009 that killed more than 300 people and struck just 50 miles to the south.  
 
In Rome today, the pope skipped his normal catechism lesson and led pilgrims in prayer for the earthquake's victims. (Photo: EPA/via BBC News)
 
Meanwhile, rescuers are hoping to find as many survivors as possible and struggling to make sense of what happened.
 
Rev. Savino D'Amelio, a priest in Amatrice said "We are living through this immense tragedy.  I really don't know what to say.  We are living through this tragedy and we are only hoping there will be the fewest number of victims possible and that we all have the courage to move on."
 
Germany, France and Israel have already volunteered to help Italy with rescue and recovery efforts. That could mean a great deal in a region that has literally changed overnight.

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