The old mountain village of Amatrice was obliterated by a 6.2 magnitude earthquake that hit early Wednesday morning, leaving nearly 200 people dead and at least 53 missing.

From the ground, EFE could see that many houses collapsed and cars were crushed by the falling rubble.

In this scene of destruction and pain, a man tried to cycle through debris-strewn streets with tears in his eyes, while young women lamented all they had lost.

Sister Mariana, an Albanian nun working at the local nursing home, told EFE she was woken up by the tremors and immediately got dressed and hid under her bed.

She said only four people from the nursing home had been saved, but another four old women and three nuns were missing.

According to the Italian Civil Protection, at least 38 people were killed by the temblor in central Italy, 28 of them in the towns of Amatrice and Accumoli.

Only in Amatrice there were 10 dead, including one minor, a local priest told EFE.

Civil Protection said most people were killed when they were trapped in their collapsed houses as they slept, and dozens of people were believed to still be buried in the rubble.

Others were more fortunate, like Menotti, a 50-year-old man who was able to flee his home with his family without being hurt, though everything around them was completely devastated.

He said many of his neighbors had been enjoying their summer holidays, and the town was full of tourists who had flocked to attend local festivities.

The local hospital escaped major damage, but patients were nonetheless evacuated and staff treated people outside in an impromptu medical center.

Authorities blocked roads up to one kilometer away from the town to facilitate access for ambulances and emergency services.

Amatrice is near L’Aquila, where in 2009, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake killed more than 300 people and destroyed the Abruzzo region and L’Aquila’s historic center.

Amatrice, Aug 24 (EFE)

The Chancellery of Costa Rica has sent a message of condolences to the good people of Italy and has pledged solidarity.

All 608 nationals and relatives registered in the Embassy and Consulate of Costa Rica in Italy have been contacted and accounted for. None have been affected by the earthquake.