Posted on 10/30/2016 1:47:44 PM PDT by nickcarraway
The centuries-old Basilica of St. Benedict in Norcia — already damaged in a spate of strong quakes in central Italy — was "destroyed" early Sunday in the latest and greatest of tremors, its monks said.
The monastery was among dozens of building in towns scattered throughout the mountainous region to collapse during the 6.6-magnitude quake that struck around 7:40 a.m., according to reports.
There was no immediate reports of fatalities, but officials with Italy’s civil protection agency said there were injuries following the seismic activity.
First responders rushed to piles of rubble searching for trapped victims after the tremor woke slumbering residents as it rumbled through the Perugia province.
Nuns in Norcia prayed as grieved monks of Norcia assessed the historic church “flattened” by the quake. The historic monastery was constructed on the site of St. Benedict’s birth in Norcia.
In this image made from video, priests and nuns escaped from their church join residents in a square in front of a damaged church in Norcia. (SKY ITALIA VIA AP) Only the monastery's ornate — but cracked — 13th century facade remained standing, according to a photo shared after the earthquake.
Television footage shows residents huddled in jackets and blankets outside the church with most of its roof and walls caved in.
“The monks are all safe, but our hearts go immediately to those affected,” the Monks of Norcia wrote in a blog post.
The beer-brewing monks had been rebuilding sections of the basilica that took a structural beating during the deadly 6.2-magnitude Aug. 24 earthquake that killed nearly 300 people in remote mountainous villages during the initial upheaval and dozens of aftershocks.
NARCH/NARCH30 Evacuated residents huddle around first responders following a 6.6-magnitude earthquake. (EMILIANO GRILLOTTI/REUTERS) Another tremor shook the community on Oct. 27 and caused a 13th-century Celtic cross attached to the basilica's delicate facade to come “crashing down.”
The latest earthquake was felt in Rome and prompted authorities to close the metro system for an infrastructure check.
Does “destroyed” mean something different from destroyed?
looks like a little more than cosmetic touching up is necessary!!
This isperhaps a sign from the Almighty that the patrimony of the West, the Greek/Roman/Jewish /Christian soul and heart, has crumbled under Secularism and that Europe does not deserve even it’s edifices.
I’m concerned for Assisi, St. Francis legacy.
Heartbreaking for our catholic bretheren. I have no doubt it will be rebuilt.
6.66 Earthquake perhaps?
It’ll buff right out!
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