A huge earthquake measuring 6.6 magnitude has struck in central Italy this morning at around 7.40am (6.40am UK time).
The quake was centred near Norica - which dates back to around 1200 AD and has a population of around 5,000 - 68km (42 miles) southeast of Perugia.
It comes just week after tremors in the region killed more than 300 people.
Early reports put the number of people injured at around 10 - with at least one of them reported to be serious.
The Basilica in Norica has been flattened - in one video nuns can be seen fleeing the scene before a clock tower which stood for hundreds of years collapsed.
This earthquake was around 108 km (67m) deep - and reportedly felt as far away as Rome (130km away) and over the border in Croatia and Slovenia.
There are reports that cracks have appeared on St Paul's Basilica in the capital - forcing it to be closed to the public while the building is assessed.
The Metro underground train service in Rome also been closed while it is checked over.
Residents living in and around Norica, which is surrounded by dozens of towns, are reporting having been woken up by buildings shaking - and the sound of falling rocks.
Italian newspaper La Stampa is reporting that three people have been pulled alive from rubble in Tolentino - a town of around 20,000 people where several buildings have been said to have collapsed.
Emergency services are urging people to use SMS messages and WhatsApp to check on their friends and families - to avoid blocking emergency calls on mobile and phone landlines.
Marco Rinaldi, the mayor of Ussita - who was sleeping in his car after recent quakes, told ANSA news agency after the huge one this morning: “It’s a disaster, a disaster!
“I was sleeping in the car and I saw hell.”
Local TV crews are showing images of damage including rubble on the ground and to ancient structures around Norica.
In one video nuns can be seen being carried out from a church in Norica by firemen.
Also according to La Stampa, the head of civil protection, Fabrizio Curcio, has said at a press conference in the town of Rieti that “a dozen” people have been injured - mostly minor injuries but one serious.
The Monks of Norcia said the Basilica of St Benedict had been "flattened" in the quake.
They have posted an update to their website which reads:
"Dear friends,
"Around 7:40 AM, a powerful earthquake struck close to Norcia. The monks are all safe, but our hearts go immediately to those affected, and the priests of the monastery are searching for any who may need the Last Rites.
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