Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

A 6.2 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Central Italy; Trurkish Forces on Syrian Border; Fighting Rages In Ukraine Despite Ceasefire. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired August 24, 2016 - 02:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


[02:00:16] ISHA SESAY, CNN ANCHOR: Hello everyone. I want to welcome our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm Isha Sesay, our breaking news this hour.

A deadly earthquake in central Italy in the middle of the night. The U.S. Geological survey says the 6.2 magnitude quake hits near the town of Norcia. Our affiliates right report at least six people were killed. But a regional police officer also reports that many people are dead. People felt the tremors in Rome. That's 160 kilometers away. Let's bring in CNN Contributor Barbie Nadeau who joins us now from Italy with more details. Barbie, we are working to get a picture of this situation in the quake zone, what are you learning?

BARBIE NADEAU, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, as authorities try to reach that area, they're -- they are learning that there are many, many people who were trapped under the rubble. We understand the town of Amatrice which was the epicenter of this earthquake, the town of about 2000 people. The mayor their said half of his town is gone and we're getting on eye witness reports. People calling into Italian media describing the scene, describing the -- just the rubble and people scrambling to try to find survivors underneath that rubble. But of course we're hearing stories that people being pulled out of the rubble alive. We're hearing that, you know, much more tragic details as well.

One of the concerns, of course, is going to be how to get big heavy lifting equipment into these areas of the road, they're compromised. Many of these roads are very narrow. Some of them are connected by bridges. That could be compromised as well with these earthquakes. So, people are scrambling right now to try to get to these areas that are most effected to try understand completely just how wide this damage is and how many people may be trapped under the rubble.

Many of these buildings are 100, 200 years old and is very much an area populated by tourist. These are, you know, villas that people rent for holiday homes in the summer. And it's a very busy time of the year right now. Schools in Italy don't start to about the 10th of September. So this is still in full summer mode here right now in Italy. This is a, you know, an area, cities are empty and the country side, areas like this Umbria are very full of people. And so, the concern is that there are many more people there who are normally there and, you know, just trying everything they can to get them into safety, to find out if people are trapped and move this quickly as they can. We do know that the hospitals in the area have called in all of their doctors and emergency workers back from vacation to be ready. We know that there's a call for blood donations in the area. So the people are ready to help the injured when they are start to arrived in the hospitals.

SESAY: Yeah. We know that there have been many after shocks, at least four. One of the measuring as much as 5.5. What we hearing about aftershocks now are people still outside in the open air, too scared to go in to those buildings that are still standing?

NADEAU: Yes. And are people have gathered in open areas in parks, in soccer fields and places like that, that are safe. So they're just trying to stay away from any buildings that might be compromised, that might fall.

You know, I spoke to a person whose has been out since 4:00 this morning about 50 kilometers from the epicenter. She said everyone in the village with sitting hours in the park wrapped in blankets just, you know, waiting for the next aftershock to happen.

We had a very strong after -- initial earthquake. I felt in around too, in the 3:30 in the morning and another very strong went about an hour later. We understand about 20 minutes ago, there was another after shock in the area. We didn't feel it in Rome but, you know, it's keeps going.

The U.S. Geological survey has said that there could be aftershocks for days and days to come. And that this earthquake just given the extent of it, of course, everybody is thinking about the 2009 earthquake in L'Aquila that destroyed that town. That town is still not been repaired. People are still living in temporary house in there that killed over 300 people. This earthquake is similar to that in finding scope. And the authorities are concerned and hopeful that the death count won't be as high as it was then.

SESAY: Yeah. And Barbie we are showing our viewers pictures from the earthquake zone from a little earlier and you can see the scale of the destruction. You can see what looks like mountains of rubble effectively. Just give us some sense of the construction in the area. I know that some of these buildings are, you know, over 100 years old. And of course, you know, the question of this safety and the sturdiness is being tested by this earthquake.

NADEAU: That's right. You know, that which draws people to this area. These pictures of beautiful old buildings already become deadly in an earthquake situation. What's going to be interesting though is just determine whether or not any lessons were learned in the L'Aquila earthquake of 2009.

After that time, there were national measures put in place at any building over 100 years old has to be reinforced and decides to make measures put in place. We're going to find pout very soon, I think if anybody paid attention to those new regulations and whether or not these buildings that would obviously know -- be known to be vulnerable were actually reinforced in the way that they should be, you know. [02:05:12] But these buildings are very, very old. Lots of old family homes and people gather in two, three generations of families spending their summers together here. We've heard just, you know, tragic reports of young children and grandparents, you know, trapped under the rubble, as people is trying very desperately to take people out. Of course, it happens in the middle of the night. People were asleep in their beds. And while, you know, we felt earthquake in Rome, I can only imagine how strong it was in the epicenter given how strong we felt it in Rome.

Right now, we're on our way to the break zone, to the epicenter areas, so we'll be able to record a little bit further about what we see when we get there.

SESAY: All right, Barbie Nadeau on route to the quake zone. Barbie stay safe. Thank you very much for joining us. We'll check in with you a short time from now. Thank you Barbie.

And let's bring in the Meteorologists Pedram Javaheri who's in the world with a sensor with more in all of this. And Pedram, I'm just speaking to Barbie. She made point, those in the quake zone and in place like Amatrice, still too afraid to go indoors as if there are buildings are still standing. Which only that leads to the question, what are the weather conditions like right now?

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGISTS: Yeah. You know, it's an excellent question. It's something we haven't touched on as much of course based on what's going on at this very moment across this region. But when it comes to the weather equation at this point, it is as tranquil as it gets. That's the best views out of all of this meteorologically.

We actually have a heat wave developing in parts of Western Europe but you take a look, an expansive area of cloud free skies across this region and the temperatures will eventually want to warm up across the area as well about 20 to 25 degrees over the next three days. So, not a major heat threat across this region and certainly not cold either.

So, it is ideal temperatures when it comes to the operations across this region to try to rescue as many people as possible. But you see the damage left in place across the area. It is significant to say at least. Of course with structures that are coming down and the historic nature of all of these areas with unreinforced brick masonry that makes up some of these buildings that are hundreds of years old in fact.

When you look at the evidence of human settlement across this region of Italy, it goes back to 10,000 B.C.. So history is prevalent across this region of Italy. And of course the images when you think about this occurring in 3:00 in the morning, that's one of the main concerns because we often see with earthquakes, it is down to three elements. So when it happened? What people were doing when that happened? And also the resistance to quakes for the structures that people were potentially inside. And all of those play a really significant role and we know in the middle of the night and of course buildings that are not going to be able to withstand intense shaking. In fact, there is a fascinating statistics where you can actually plug in a data for an earthquake and shaking intensity and get the intensity equation and that gives you about 60 million sticks of dynamite being detonated at the same time. That's how much energy it took for the earth to split open across this region of central Italy and this earthquake to cause intense amount of shaking.

So, we know upwards of 20 million people feeling the shaking, the highest threat was moderate shaking from over 12 million people. And 6.5 million felt strong shaking and, again, when you work your way towards Rome, more than 100 kilometers away, at least moderate shaking felt. But look how expensive this region is right here in the yellow. That again indicates strong to very strong shaking over a widespread area across this region of Italy.

And it's the depth of that is a major concern when you talk about how shallow it is because just like anything, even in automotive accidents when -- Isha, one of the car strikes another car, the energy has to be transferred somewhere. It typically goes to the next car over. And when you think about this particular quake coming in a 10 kilometers deep, that are energy has top go somewhere. And if there are residents right above it, that's where it's going and unfortunately, that's what we think happened here.

SESAY: Yeah. Very unfortunate indeed. The pictures are just staggering. Pedram, thank you so much, we'll check back in with you so do stand by for us.

I want to share this with our viewers, earlier I spoke with Eleonora Romandini (ph) who was about 20 kilometers away from the quake zone.

(BEGIN RECORD CLIP)

ELEONORA ROMANDINI: Experienced the waking up, the worst waking up ever and we woke up with these earthquakes which was very, very strong. The beds were moving and we woke up with these people screaming because they were asking for help but no damages and like me, there were no damages in my area. So, 20 kilometers away in earthquake zone (ph). There are a lot of damages and we heard from the news and we were waiting for some news to come on the T.V. to decide if we go down from the building or to stay at home but -- and we are in a very high floor. So we heard it and we felt it very well. And we heard also aftershocks there and they were strong.

[02:10:01] So, we didn't know what to do, so we decided to go down after the third aftershock. And maybe there re also earthquake, sorry I can't define them. And it was very shocking. We were waiting in the street with all the building and people. And we were very scared. And we saw the building shaking onto the aftershocks then we heard -- when we sat down, we heard the earthquakes also coming one after one another. And yeah, it was very scary. We heard the news, they're following social media and trying to calling. How are you and everything? So it was very, very shocking.

SESAY: Yeah, it must have been absolutely terrifying. Just hearing you describe it is very, very frightening. You made it outside safely. How much damage is there ...

ROMANDINI: Yeah.

SESAY: ...to the town that you are in? What have you been seeing? What are people have been seeing?

ROMANDINI: I'm seeing like the thing, we are very near to the sea. We saw the sea coming on the beach, also over passing (inaudible), all the fact. So, we just saw that. And the building shaking, so we mostly heard and felt the earthquake, then we saw damages. So we're not allowed to ask people on the collapse building. So I mean it is a very terrifying situation. So we also heard about mayors of the cities like Amatrice who are crying on the phone crying, asking for help because the town was completely gone and that's they're like there towns is not like exists anymore. So, and that's it.

SESAY: Yeah, and an incredible tragedy. We're hearing that the roads in the area of very small, that they are made of stone. So, you know, there's concern that some of the roads, you know, it's going to be difficult to get through them that they may be blocked.

ROMANDINI: Yes.

SESAY: What can you tell us about the conditions of the roads where you are?

ROMANDINI: We just -- we saw a lot of cars going through the night and the morning. And a lot of people were going to the center but I don't think they got anywhere because a lot of roads were closed because the earthquakes were going through. And it was safer to pick a place and stay there. Also a lot of cars which were going to the center stopped because they -- the car was shaking also with the aftershocks. And they stop like screaming and were like, no, no, no, we can't go anymore. And a lot of people tried to go out of the sea to go -- and usually this is a safe place but we heard it very well.

(END RECORD CLIP)

SESAY: All right. Eleonor Romandini, speaking to me a short time ago. She is close to where the quake actually struck. The epicenter being Amatrice. Let's bring in Tomas, there are longer national spokesman for the Italian Red Cross who joined us by phone from Rome. Tomas, thank you so much for being with us. Let me first ask you where the Red Cross has teams in the quake zone? Where are you people? What are they doing right now in the effected areas?

TOMMASO DELLA LONGA, SPOKESMAN FOR THE RED CROSS: I'm on a highest -- first of all and thank you. Mainly our local branches, local volunteers were at themselves by the earthquake. But they are -- that I mean, they starts working helping the effected people right after the earthquake in the villages. Then now, our National Structure, all hour (ph) are made epicenter and mobilized. And ambulance to centers, the rescue teams are now going to the places hidden by the earthquake.

SESAY: All right. What are your people, who was there, in those villages, what are telling you about what they're seeing about the situation right now?

DELLA LONGA: On the situation, it's really difficult. That (inaudible), in knowing that the picture that we got from our delegating Amatrice are telling us a terrible story of as this most city completely destroyed. So, the situation is very difficult to deal.

SESAY: With Ametrice, as you say, we've heard from the mayor telling our affiliate that the town is gone and you yourself just confirmed that. Are you also hearing that there are significant numbers of people trapped under the rubble? What are you hearing about casualties?

DELLA LONGA: Actually at the moment, we cannot confirm any numbers. What's we -- what is important for us, at this stage, I mean in the right after the earthquake and also now, it's one as much as possible to have the biggest number of search rescue team to find people under -- I mean the building that collapsed.

[02:15:13] SESAY: The challenges I understand is actually getting to some of these areas, getting to these villages because in some areas, we're hearing that the roads are blocked because of the earthquake. Is that what you're hearing?

DELLA LONGA: Yeah, you have to understand that's these are under observing, then the center of Italy are in the middle of mountains and valleys. So, unfortunately now the -- all the emergency response -- the Italian emergency response team to available and need to go into these areas, but then there are -- let's say that small houses in the middle of valley that are completely alone and that probably they need help. So, it will take some time to reach them. So, the situation is difficult but we are doing our best at the moments.

SESAY: What would you say is the biggest challenge facing your teams as they try in response to this disaster?

DELLA LONGA: Ma'am, the biggest challenge at the moment is to be right there as soon as possible from all the neighboring region and to find as much as possible people alive, then we will think about fence and field kitchen and hospital, I mean whatever, all the things that we are setting up after an emergency. But now it's really fundamental to find survivors.

SESAY: Yeah, indeed it is. It is a race against the clock. Tommaso della Longa, with the Red Cross. Thank you so much for joining us. We wish you the very best in your efforts sir in the quake zone. Thank you for speaking to us.

DELLA LONGA: Thank you very much.

SESAY: OK, let's take a very quick break, more in our breaking news when we come right back. That deadly 6.2 magnitude earthquake in central Italy. You're watching CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PATRICK SNELL, CNN SPORT ANCHOR: Hi there, I'm Patrick Snell with your CNN world sport headlines would be 2016, Rio De Janeiro Olympics. Now over the finish line, it's time for the athletes to enjoy their homecoming. Songs of joy then for team GB will ride back at London Heathrow working actually the first nation to improve on a home medal role at the very next games. South African, Olympians including the 800 metal gold medalist Caster Semenya receiving a rafters welcome as they return to Johannesburg. And similar team in Germany where the athletes there were treating to a heroes welcome at Frankfurt City Hall.

In global news, countries fire house Celtic traveling to Israel to face premier league champs half a way. They are share there with the commanding 5-2 first league. Up their sleeve is Brendan Rogers team looked to reach the group stages all of the tournament for the first time in three years well off to boast.

[02:20:02] Israeli host their penalty save, they are taking the leads through Ben Sahar, the former Chelsea man with the header. They would not explore another one, they will up but they could, they got a second but they couldn't get the third, Celtic winning 5-4 on aggregate. And no champions league and indeed Europe league. The yielding clocks legal pool meaning the REDS were in English league cup second round action, they are opponents, burden out, you know, the championship and they were no match for the premier league team will ramp to a five no win, they'll most courage with to. Nice to look at your screen and watch more headlines, I'm Patrick Snell.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SESAY: Welcome back everyone. We want to update you on the breaking news, that powerful earth quake that struck central Italy early Wednesday. Italy have reports at least six killed when the magnitude 6.2 quake hit near the town of Norcia. There are reports of collapse buildings and one local mayor says half his town is gone. The tremors could be felt as far away as Rome, 160 kilometers away. And an aftershock followed about an hour later and they USGS warns, they could continue for days. We will of course continue to monitor the situation in the quake zone but for now we want to turn to the situation in the Middle East.

The Iraqi militant forces are getting closer to Mosul and their ultimate goal, taking it back from ISIS. They're closing in on the town of Qayarrah about 60 kilometers south of Mosul. A military spokesman says troops recaptured an oil refinery there on Tuesday. ISIS is trying to keep secure the forces away is settings lies oil tankers and oil fields to make them less visible from the air. Militants are also setting off suicide car bombs on the way to Qayarrah.

Turkish Armed forces have begun an assault on an ISIS controlled border town. So it's an official news agency, and they'll says, they are using artillery fire against ISIS in town of Jerabulus. CNN partner, CNN Turk says military sources tell them land operations haven't started. Other sources say, this is retaliation of the mortars landed in a residential Turkish neighborhood on Tuesday. Well, CNN International Correspondent, Ben Wedeman joins me from Ankara. Ben, we hear that Turkish tanks are operating on the border now. What can you tell us about this operation?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is an operation in fact that well proceeds two days, the last two days of mortar strikes from ISIS controlled territory in Syria into turkey. This operation began at 4:00 a.m. this morning. That's about just over six hours ago. It started with about an hour and a half of artillery tank and f16 strikes on ISIS targets on the town of Jerabulus which is just on the other side of that border, right next to the Euphrates river. After an hour and a half, bulldozers went it to action, clearing openings in the berm that separates Syria and Turkey.

Now, according to Turkish media, they say that a -- Turkish media say that 11 of the 12 targets that they had laid out before this operation have been struck and we did hear yesterday the foreign minister saying that turkey would provide all support for this operation. Now, the troops that would go in, in theory are members of the free Syrian army supported by Turkish air power and artillery. Although, there are reports that Turkish media that's Turkish Special forces may also participate in this operation.

This certainly is a dramatic new development in an already complicated situation. Now Turkey says the goal of this operation is to strike ISIS, destroy it in Jerabulus to prevent the flow of refugees into Turkey and to provide aid and support to Syrians living inside in that area. But analysts believe that one of the reasons for this operation is to prevent U.S. backed, Kurdish and Arab forces in the form of the so-called Syrian democratic forces, from gaining control of Jerabulus. So, this is really part of a very complicated and sensitive scenario in an already very complicated situation.

SESAY: Yeah. It gets harder to follow day by day. Ben Wedeman joining us there from Ankara, Turkey. Ben, always appreciate it, thank you.

Now North Korea has defied U.N. resolutions again by test firing a submarine based ballistic missile.

[02:25:00] South Korea says, the missile flow about 500 kilometers or about 300 miles east west from North Korea's eastern cost. Officials said, entered Japan's air defense identification zone. This comes as U.S. and South Korea are involved in joint military exercises. North Korea has threaten nuclear retaliation if the drill show, "A slightest sign of aggression."

Oh Will Ripley, joins us now from Seoul with more. And Will according to South Korean officials, this missile launch appears to indicates some improvement in North Korea's technological capabilities. What do we learning?

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we know for starters just how far, when I hear the last successful launch or at least as North Korea called it a success back in April. The submarine launch ballistic missiles went 30 kilometers. This time U.S, and South Korean authorities and Japanese authorities will monitoring this, believe it went 500 kilometers, about 30 miles. So, 16 times a greater distance.

What we're waiting to learn though is the speed that it was traveling the altitude whether the first and second phase successfully. Whether there was a separation that took place. In other words, if the missile did everything that it's supposed to do to be. Launching a missile that it can travel a certain distance but also accurately hit a target which of course is North Korea's goal. They want to develop these submarine ballistic missiles that can get up close to enemy shores, for example like United States or any other target and then fire with almost no notice.

A surprise attack if you will hitting a much wider variety of targets than a missiles that would be launched from the Korean Peninsula. But they're also developing, you know, smaller mobile missiles launchers as moves it on missiles. They have been testing and then of course, the ultimate goal of the intercontinental ballistic missile with a miniaturize nuclear war head. You saw on North Korea launches satellite earlier this year, that same type of carrier system could also carry a miniaturize war heads. So, with each test and there have been 30 missile tests since the North Korean leader Kim Jong un took power. They get closer to these goals and of course, this all happening as you said as these U.S.-South Korean military exercises continue Isha.

SESAY: Yeah. With each test, the tension rises further there in the region. Will Ripley joining us there from Seoul, South Korea. Thank you Will.

Still to come here on CNN newsroom. We'll go live to Rome for the latest on the 6.2 magnitude earthquake that has rocked central Italy. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:30:42] SESAY: Welcome back everyone to -- welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm Isha Sesay live from Los Angeles. You are watching our live breaking news coverage of the powerful earthquake that struck Central Italy.

The 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit the town of Norcia early Wednesday morning at around 3:36 a.m. Affiliate Rai reports at least six people died and the USGS warns the casualties could indeed rise.

An aftershock hit about an hour later. Facebook safety check is active for people to try to connect to each other in the affected area.

Let's go to CNN contributor, Barbie Nadeau, who joins us now from Rome. Barbie, as we speak to you, it's gone 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning there in Italy. Bring us up to speed with the latest as you know it?

BARBIE NADEAU, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): We're en route to this area which is lots and lots of emergency vehicles on the road, ambulances, and things like that moving into the area. Of course, the biggest problem's going to be accessing some of these remote villages that were effected.

So many of these towns are ancient villages that are tourist towns populated by the romans and people in the area who go out to the mountain side for the summer, rented out as holiday homes and tourists from around Europe and the United States.

A lot of this is finding out who's in these villages, holiday homes and if they're safe. We know in the epicenter town, of about 2,000 people the mayor there says half his town is gone. That's the heavily affected area.

We've seen pictures upon pictures of rubble and reports from social media in that area saying they're digging through the rubble by hand to pull out any survivors. We've seen lots of pictures on Italian media of people being pulled out alive.

But there are so many people assumed to be trapped under the rubble. This happened at 3:30 in the morning and another aftershock an hour later. People were in their beds sleeping. No one was out and about.

It's going to be difficult to understand how many people are affected until they can remove some of these rubble in these areas. But of course, it's difficult to get that heavy equipment into these towns.

Some of these roads are very narrow. Some of the bridges have been compromised by the earthquake and we have maybe 50/60 people in them and no emergency services. The Italian prime minister called the National Civil Protection Authority to be involved, which is akin to calling it a natural disaster area.

That allows for every possible vehicle and resource to be used to try and help this affected area. Right now we're just seeing lots and lots of emergency vehicles move into the area. And we should be able to give you a first-hand report right from the scene.

SESAY: And Barbie, as you speak, we're showing our viewers images now from the quake zone as we see heavy machinery digging through the mountains of rubble. This is a recurring scene that we have seen in pictures coming from the affected area.

Mountains and mountains of rubble and of course, there is a massive search underway to get to the bottom of these piles of rubble to see if anyone remains trapped. That is the concern. That is the reports we're getting that many people are still trapped in the rubble of collapsed buildings.

And Barbie, we know you're making your way to the quake zone. You're very close. We will check in with you when you get there so do standby for that. Thank you for speaking to us.

We want to bring in Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri who is at the World Weather Center with much more. Pedram, as you look at the situation right now. What are you seeing? When was the last time there was an aftershock in this area?

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: We're seeing an aftershock just about every 30 minutes across this region. They've been between a 4 and 4.7. There was one that was a 5.5 and what you have damage that is as what we are seeing across this region even from the 6.2. The 5.5 can cause a loss of life for just the vulnerability of the structures that have been compromised due to the intense shaking.

In fact, fascinating formula you can see the energy released from any shaking of a quake and 6.2 would be equivalent to 60 million sticks of dynamite being released to cause a rupture in the earth's surface right there across this region.

[02:35:10]And of course, all of that energy has to go somewhere because of the shallow nature of this being right there at around 10 kilometers or 6 miles deep. That's why we think this is such a significant quake.

In fact the USGS has put the estimated economic losses of this up to around a billion dollars. That's at least highest likelihood there, 35 percent zone where it would be north of $1 billion of damage left in place across this region of Central Italy.

You look at the estimated fatality based on previous quakes of this magnitude, highest likelihood is somewhere between say 10 to 1,000 with the 100 to 1,000 fatalities being the most likely area where they think that this could be as far as shaking intensity and of course, the shallow nature of the quake.

But we know 20 million people felt this quake and moderate intensity shaking was felt by almost 13 million of them. In fact, you can measure this particular region around to see how widespread an area it is, 400 square kilometers of land feeling at least strong shaking across this widespread region.

Now population density, of course, far greater as you move away on into Rome. But we know again, 20 million feeling the shaking across this region and all of this happening at 3:36 in the morning.

So here's what we expect, with the magnitude 6.2, we would expect one aftershock of 5.2 or greater. We have seen that. We've seen about again another six aftershocks that have been in the 4.2 or greater scale and you can expect hundreds, if not thousands more of the lesser intensity shaking across this region over the coming several weeks to months.

So the weather pattern at this point looks as such. Generally clear skies. That is great news when it comes to recovery efforts and search efforts across this region and I shall leave you with this perspective here really eerily similar quake in just every single metric when it comes to this being --

SESAY: Pedram, I have to jump in. Sorry for that because I want to take our viewers straight to a news conference being held by the Civil Protection Agency, if you will. The group, the body that is coordinating the rescue effort in Italy. Let's listen in.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): This is a vast massive earthquake and it has a huge impact on the territory we're seeing. This is the situation so far. I don't know whether to say something in terms of the death toll. We can only confirm what we know. There will be victims. We cannot confirm right now.

We have news and information about right now. We've got the emergency services working now and the interventions are taking place. We going to provide updates to the press as to what has happened and what we're doing. Thank you very much for your attention.

Thank you to the prefect. We want to send a message and you can also see the report to the assistance and there is also assistance support provided to all the villages. We have put this emergency service into place.

And we have mobilized also everyone because we imagine that there is a lot to be learned right now. We have to provide all the support we can. And we are going to keep providing assistance, and focus on providing the help we must provide. We have been in touch with him.

[02:40:06]Also with those in (inaudible) which have the areas affected and the director is going to talk to us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The firemen have been sent in to carry out the rescue operation --

SESAY: All right, we're going to break away now from the news conference by Italy's Civil Protection. They are coordinating the emergency response in the quake zone. They made the point right at the beginning that they can confirm there are victims but they cannot confirm numbers.

So, we are hearing from our affiliate, Ryan News, they are now reporting that there are at least 14 dead from this quake that struck Central Italy. That news conference once again -- the individuals there speaking to the assembled media, making the point that they have emergency services activated, on the scene and they are working to respond to this disaster.

But at the moment, at this point in time, as we try and get a sense of the numbers of injured, the numbers of dead, the latest we are getting from our affiliate, Ryan News is that at least 14 people have lost their lives in this deadly earthquake that struck at around 3:36 a.m. on Wednesday morning in Central Italy.

We'll have much more much on the breaking news we come back. We're going to take you a very quick break. We'll bring you the latest on the deadly 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Central Italy. You are watching CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:46:00]

SESAY: Welcome back, everyone. Let's update you now on the breaking news, a strong earthquake struck Central Italy early Wednesday near the town of Norcia. CNN affiliate Rai reports at least 14 people were killed when the 6.2 magnitude quake hit. An aftershock followed an hour later. One local mayor says the roads in and out of his town are cut off and half the town is gone. Facebook safety check is live for people who are trying to connect with anyone in the quake zone. We're going to continue to follow the situation in Italy for you.

But let's turn to Ukraine now, which is marking 25 years since it gained independence from the Soviet Union. But even after a quarter century, Ukrainian soldiers say they're still fighting to escape Moscow's dominance. Our Phil Black got up close and personal, and give us an insight into Europe's forgotten war. Here's his report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Through this gate is one front line of a war still ravaging a country and destroying lives. A year and a half after all sides promised a ceasefire where would Ukrainian soldiers near (inaudible) in the country's east as they try to hold a position against pro-Russian forces.

(on camera): Slamming into the walls of this shed. The people here say this is what it's like every single day. They're not just lobbing stuff at each other. They're trying to move forward and take each other's territory.

(voice-over): Captain (inaudible) tells us we must now run. This short dash for cover draws fire. We shelter in the remains of another devastated building. The source of the incoming fire is very close.

(on camera): So your enemy's out that way?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

BLACK: About 100 meters away?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

BLACK (voice-over): The pause in the shooting allows us to move forward. We cross more open ground between old buildings. This industrial site is a fiercely contested prize. The Ukrainian forces say they've lost ten men in the last month and there are casualties every day.

The captain wants to show us one of the positions they're being attacked from. A tall tower-like building so close we could stroll there in less than a minute. At that moment, the fighting picks up. There is incoming fire from several directions.

(on camera): There is now fighting during the day every day. The soldiers here say. But more than that, it's in the evening, 4:00, like clockwork this begins and it really kicks off. Why is this position, this territory so important?

(voice-over): He says the enemy has already moved beyond the line of control set in the peace deal. He says the pro-Russian forces move forward from here, they could keep going and take any city in Ukraine.

From relative safety, we listen to the remains of war. Until it gets too close. Mortars land just outside. They're punched through this building before.

(on camera): Chris, you good?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, let's go, let's go.

[02:50:09]BLACK (voice-over): Bullets whistle around our team during the final run to safety. This is what a ceasefire looks like in Eastern Ukraine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: Remarkable reporting there. Phil Black joins us now live from (inaudible) in Eastern Ukraine. And Phil, the concern is that this tension could erupt into full-scale fighting. Is that where this is heading?

BLACK: It's one analysis, that's right. That the trend in recent months has been heading in that direction. International observers say there has been a dramatic uptick in fighting. You can see there that it really is still very much an active war. Casualties have increased, civilian casualties have increased.

We've also heard this dramatic escalation in rhetoric too between Ukraine and Russia. Russia claimed that Ukrainian saboteurs tried to breach Crimea, that peninsula that Russia annexed in early 2014, with the intent of conducting terrorist attacks.

Russia says that wouldn't be allowed to pass. We've seen military trainings and mobilizations since then. The Ukrainian government believes this is potentially a justification for imminent military action on Russia's part -- Isha.

SESAY: Phil Black joining us from Eastern Ukraine. Phil, stay safe. Thanks so much. Time for a quick break now and our breaking news coverage of Italy's deadly earthquake continues next. The latest on the casualties and the extensive damage after this quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:55:30]

SESAY: Hello, everyone. Back to our breaking news coverage of the deadly earthquake in Central Italy. A magnitude 6.2 quake about 10 kilometers south of Norcia. People could feel tremor in Rome. We want to bring you these live pictures. Take a look at them with us.

Our affiliate Rai reports that at least 14 people are dead. One local mayor told state television that half his town is gone. You see the mountains of rubble and efforts to find out whether there are people who remain trapped beneath them.

It is a massive operation and we are continuing to follow it for you. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM live from Los Angeles. I'm Isha Sesay. Our breaking news continues in a moment with Rosemary Church. Stay with CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)