At least 120 people have died in the earthquake that struck the central Italian region of Umbria in the early hours of yesterday morning (wed).
The magnitude 6.2-quake devastated several mountain towns and villages near the city of Perugia.
Buildings have collapsed in a number of towns leaving people trapped under the rubble.
The U-S Geological Survey says the epicentre was near the town of Norcia [nor-chuh], with tremors felt as far as the capital Rome over 150 kilometres away.
There have been numerous aftershocks in the hours since.
Matteo Renzi is promising to return hope to the quake hit region.
(translation)"In the moments of difficulty, Italy knows what to do. In the moments in which things do not go right, all of Italy, all of it, shows their best side. The government is committed to not leaving anyone, no family, no community, no neighbourhood alone and lets get to work as in the next hours we can continue to pull survivors out of the rubble and we can return hope to that territory which has been so brutally hit."
Italian Red Cross National spokesman Tommaso della Longa told the A-B-C, emergency crews have been mobilised in the worst affected areas to offer people help.
"The situation is very difficult at the moment because the earthquake was in the middle of the night and all the protection, red cross (emergency responders) are now mobilised and are going there on the field."
The European Union is offering its condolences to victims of the earthquake in Italy, and says it will send aid to the quake-hit country.
The deployment of damage assessment aid is in response to Italian authorities' requests for help.
European Commission spokesman Alexandre Polack offered his condolences, on behalf of the Commission, to the victims' families and all those affected.
"The commission emergency response coordination centre has been immediate contact with Italian civil protection authorities during the night, regarding any help which could be requested. So far, the Italian authorities have requested that the emergency management services provide damage assistance satellite maps for the affected area."
