Italy ? A strong earthquake rocked central Italy early today, killing at least six people, causing buildings to collapse and sending panicked residents into the streets, officials and news reports said.

Several people were also reported missing in the area of the quake, which was felt in much of central Italy, including Rome.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude was 6.3, though Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics put the magnitude at 5.8.

The quake struck about 70 miles northeast of Rome at about 3:32 a.m. local time, officials said. The Civil Protection Department said the epicenter was near the city of L’Aquila, in the mountainous Abruzzo region.