ROME - 

 There has been a small earthquake near Rieti, in Lazio, Central Italy.

 The earthquake occurred at 15.18 p.m., and was estimated by the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) to have had a magnitude of 3.5, according to Il Messaggero.

 It was preceded by a rumbling noise, which was clearly heard in the surrounding area.  The tremor was also distinctly felt in Amatrice, which in 2016 was devastated by an earthquake, and places further away such as Teramo, Il Messaggero reported.

 The earthquake’s epicentre was at Cittareale, and occurred at a depth of 12km.  Another earthquake of magnitude 2.4 immediately followed, at 15.20.

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