Story highlights Nine aftershocks reported after initial quake

"Catastrophic weather" blocking roads to some affected areas

Rome (CNN) The metro system and some schools in Italy's capital, Rome, were evacuated Wednesday following a series of powerful earthquakes that struck the heart of the country. An initial 5.3-magnitude quake hit in the morning near the town of of Amatrice, a town devastated by powerful temblors last year, and the tremors continued for more than six hours, including one as strong as 5.7. Obviously the quake was felt clearly all over the center, as far as the capital.”

In Rome, children were sent home from school at mid morning, public buildings were evacuated and authorities shut down the subway system.
Four earthquakes of magnitude 5.1 or higher strike near Amatrice, Italy, forcing evacuation of some schools and the Rome Metro. No deaths are reported from the quakes.