AMATRICE, ITALY — A magnitude-6.2 earthquake struck central Italy early Wednesday, killing at least 159 people. Many more are still believed buried under the rubble.

According to the BBC, the origin of the earthquake was about 100 km northeast of Rome. Nearby historic towns of Amatrice, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto were torn apart.

“The town is no more,” Amatrice Mayor Sergio Pirozzi told CNN affiliate Rai of the village. Amatrice, populated by about 2,000 people, has a history of more than 700 years.

The quake struck at 3:36 a.m. local time while many people were still asleep. Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said more than 200 aftershocks were recorded.