It was a day of mourning and prayer for people here in New England with loved ones in Central Italy.
Many are just hoping to hear from family and friends while seeing the devastation after the earthquake.
"I was there two days ago," said Stefan Marchese. He said it's heartbreaking to see his hometown devastated by the quake. "All my parents there, family relatives. The feeling to be far away, it makes you nervous because you don't know what to do."
Feeling anxious and helpless, the Boston musician and teacher began sending messages on social media. Fortunately, he said his family is OK.
"They felt it, they felt the shock," Marchese said. "Of course they are scared. Maybe they will sleep a few nights in a car because they are afraid to go back in the houses."
So many people in Boston's North End have family in the area near the quake.
"I'm worried about them, but I"m sure they will pull through this," said Anna Dottavio. She said her family was also fortunate not to have been injured.
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Cardinal Sean O'Malley also asked the faithful on Wednesday to keep the people of Italy in their prayers.
Representatives from the Italian Embassy told necn that the best way to help is to donate to the Italian Red Cross:
There is also a telephone number that people here in the U.S. can use to try and contact possible victims in Central Italy:
