ROME, Italy -- Rescuers were digging through rubble with bare hands for survivors after a powerful earthquake hit a remote region of central Italy Monday, killing at least 50 people, leaving thousands homeless and destroying many historic buildings.

The pre-dawn jolt struck near the historic college city of L'Aquila, about 95 kilometers (60 miles) north of the capital Rome, where tremors could be felt.

Frightened residents rushed into streets as the 30-second tremor struck while most were sleeping.

Buildings, many of them dating back to the 13th century, collapsed and boulders blocked roads.

Resident Maria Francesco told AFP: "It was the apocalypse, our house collapsed. It's destroyed, and there's nothing left to recover."

Narrow medieval streets in L'Aquila and the mountain towns and villages close to the epicenter were making it difficult for rescue vehicles and equipment to access some areas.

Journalist Delia Gallagher said locals were forced to use bare hands to dig through ruined buildings in the hunt for survivors as they waited for emergency teams to reach them.

With some areas yet to report the extent of the damage, the death toll was expected to rise.

Italy's ANSA news agency quoted Interiror Minister Roberto Maroni saying the death toll was at least 50, a figure matched by police at the scene.

"A local police officer told me that there are as many as 50 casualties, 50 people found dead so far under the rubble in [the city of] L'Aquila and in the neighboring towns," CNN producer Hada Messia said

Berlusconi canceled a trip to Moscow following the earthquake and was heading to the affected area.

Pope Benedict XVI was praying for the "victims, especially the children," killed in the quake, the Vatican said, according to ANSA.

The quake destroyed many buildings, including older structures, and tens of thousands of people have been put out of their homes, according to the mayor of L'Aquila. Many of the homeless were being taken to the city's main stadium.

Part of the region is without electricity, and crews were checking for gas leaks.

The U.S. Geological Survey measured the quake at magnitude 6.3, while Italy's national institute for geophysics, which put it at 5.8.

The earthquake followed less than six hours after another quake hit the northern part of the country, the U.S.G.S. reported.

Three significant aftershocks -- ranging from magnitude 4.3 to 4.8 -- shook the area within six hours of the 6.3 quake.

Tens of thousands of people were out in the streets, according to the mayor of L'Aquila. Aftershocks continued to shake the region, unnerving residents.

L'Aquila is the capital of the central Italian Abruzzo region. Earthquakes are common in the region and residents are reportedly taught to go out into open areas as soon as a quake strikes.

Italy itself is crossed by two geological fault lines, making it one of the most earthquake-prone countries in Europe.

On Sunday evening, a 4.6-magnitude jolt shook the country's north, about 55 km (35 miles) southeast of Bologna, according to meteorologists.

A 6.5-magnitude quake in southern Italy in 1980 killed nearly 3,000 people. Other quakes in 1908, 1915 and 1930 killed tens of thousands.

Gallagher said there had already been international pledges of assistance for victims of the disaster.

In Turkey, U.S. President Barack Obama expressed his concerns for those affected.

"We want to send our condolences to the families there and hope we are able to get rescue teams in and minimize the damage as much as possible," he said.

Courtesy of CNN.com