The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Italy confirmed that there have been no reports of Lankans affected by the earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 that shook central Italy early yesterday morning.

When contacted the officials of the Embassy said they are still proceeding with collecting facts on Sri Lankans, but there were no reports of any one affected yet.

The death toll of the earthquake has risen to 50 and thousands were left homeless in central Italy while the buildings in the mountainous Abruzzo Region, east of Rome were severely damaged.

At least 20 people died and thousands were left homeless when an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 shook central Italy early Monday morning, seriously damaging buildings in the mountainous Abruzzo Region east of Rome, officials told Italian news media.

The epicentre was in L’Aquila, a picturesque Medieval fortress hill town, where eight people died and more were trapped under rubble, officials said.

The situation is "extremely critical, as many buildings have collapsed," Luca Spoletini, a spokesman for Italy’s Civil Protection Agency, told the ANSA news agency. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi declared a state of emergency in the region.

ANSA said fatalities were reported from six locations near L’Aquila. . Four children died in hospital after their house collapsed, ANSA reported. A fifth child died in the village of Fossa, eight miles from L’Aquila.

The quake struck around 3:30 a.m. and could be felt as far away as Rome, some 95 miles to the west, where it rattled furniture and set off car alarms.