Central Italy was hit with a 6.6-magnitude earthquake on Sunday, October 30th, injuring at least twenty people.

It was the strongest quake to rock the nation since 1980 and followed a devastating 6.2-magnitude earthquake in August that killed three hundred people. According to the US Geological Survey, it struck just over three miles north of the small Italian city of Norcia between the Umbria and Marche regions. Because many residents had yet to return since the August’s earthquake, the area was not as heavily populated and there were no reported deaths. Emergency personnel did, however, rescue six people from rubble and sent them to local hospitals via helicopter. Since Sunday, there have been two hundred minor aftershocks. Fabrizio Curcio, the Civil Protection Chief states that since some villages are so isolated, it is hard to assess the damage. Upwards of fifteen thousand people around the country have lost electricity.

Italy has lost one of its most historic sites during the shock- the Basilica of San Benedetto, an ancient monastery. The walls began to collapse the morning of the quake at 7:40 am local time (2:40 am ET).  Italian prime minister, Matteo Renzi, spoke out and offered words of encouragement to citizens as well as to give thanks to rescuers, “Italy has many faults, but these situations bring out the best of us,” he said, adding the country would rebuild houses, churches and shops.

Pictures have surfaced on Twitter of severely cracked roads in Norcia  in several directions; users re-tweeting in disbelief of the damage. People in Norcia appreciate the support and several refuse to leave their town, clinging to their heritage.  Many have taken sleeping in their cars believing that they offer more protection than the area’s roofs. Despite the steadfast and touching feelings of community and faith, the region’s mountainous geography poses more threats for the future. With winter coming, support camps will be harder to implement as well. Surveyors say the best thing to do is stay out of central Italy before another natural disaster.