Italy earthquake: Religious life turned upside down

Drone footage shot in the central Italian town of Tolentino, Sunday, showed the extent of damage done to houses following a 6.6 magnitude earthquake. 

Sunday's earthquake struck the medieval walled town of Norcia as nuns, monks and priests were heading to morning prayer services, giving them just enough time to flee as the walls around them plunged to the earth.
The quake hit the same central regions that have been rocked by repeated tremors over the past two months. Although it was bigger than an August 24 earthquake that killed almost 300 people, no-one died on Sunday, but there was huge damage.
Weakened by repeated powerful jolts in recent weeks, many of Norcia's churches, monasteries and chapels were wrecked.

REMO CASILLI/REUTERS

Many nuns, monks and priests were displaced by the quake, which caused widespead damage to many of Norcia's churches, monasteries and chapels.

"We thought it was the end of everything," said 74-year-old Sister Maria Raffaella Buoso, sitting on a bench outside the walls of Norcia after being evacuated from the Monastery of the Poor Clares of Santa Maria della Pace.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/85896837/Italy-earthquake-Religious-life-turned-upside-down