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ROME, April 6 (Reuters) - Part of a university residence, a church tower and several houses collapsed in a strong earthquake that hit central Italy on Monday but it was not clear if there were any casualties, officials said.

There was no immediate word on whether anyone was inside the dormitory in the city of l'Aquila, about 100 km (62 miles) east of Rome. The quake registered 6.3 on the Richter scale and struck shortly after 3.30 a.m. (0130 GMT).

Television pictures showed rubble on a number of streets in l'Aquila and at least one modern house whose roof collapsed. The pictures also showed the rubble from a collapsed bell tower.

Damage was also reported in a number of outlying towns and villages in the mountainous region east of Rome.