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One dead, 25 injured as earthquake rocks Italian tourist island

One woman has died on the southern Italian resort island of Ischia following a 3.6-magnitude earthquake.

The ANSA news agency reports local police have advised the woman was killed by plaster falling off a church.

The earthquake struck just before 9pm on Monday night causing buildings to collapse and sending panicked residents and tourists out into the streets.

People lined the streets after the earthquake caused buildings to collapse. Source: AAP
People lined the streets after the earthquake caused buildings to collapse. Source: AAP

Local media reports that there are seven people still trapped under rubble and 25 people have been injured.

According to RAI television, 20 people are still unaccounted for on Ischia which lies about 55 kilometres south-west of Naples.

Tents have been arranged for those who are injured.

Several buildings collapsed. Source: Twitter / @precy80
Several buildings collapsed. Source: Twitter / @precy80
There were reports people were trapped under rubble. Source: AAP
There were reports people were trapped under rubble. Source: AAP

The quake "was really strong, and really scary", local councillor Donatella Migliaccio told news agency DPA.

"I heard that people have died," she added.

Several buildings collapsed after the earthquake. Source: AAP
Several buildings collapsed after the earthquake. Source: AAP
There are reports people are still trapped under rubble. Source: Twitter / @precy80
There are reports people are still trapped under rubble. Source: Twitter / @precy80

Civil protection crews - already on the island in force to fight the forest fires that have been ravaging southern Italy - were checking the status of the buildings that suffered damage.

The quake caused an electrical blackout and the evacuation of a hospital.

Ischia, a popular holiday resort, was struck by a massive earthquake in 1883 that killed more than 2300 people.