By early August 25, Italian officials said the death toll had reached 247 and the number of people hospitalized with quake-related injuries was more than 260.
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Tuesday’s natural disaster was the deadliest to strike Italy since 2009, when another temblor killed more than 300 people. “There are deaths”, he told state-run RaiNews24. There are people under the rubble …
Among the victims was a nine-month-old baby girl whose parents survived, an 18-month-old toddler and two other young children who died with their parents in Accumoli.
Collapsed buildings in central Amatrice.
More than 1,000 people have been displaced by the quake, and Italy’s Civil Protection agency said no residents were allowed to sleep in the devastated town of Amatrice on Wednesday night.
Italy’s natural disaster institute, INGV, said the epicentre was near Accumoli and Amatrice, which lie between the larger towns of Ascoli Piceno to the northeast and Rieti to the southwest. Rocks and metal tumbled onto the streets and dazed residents huddled in piazzas as aftershocks continued into the early morning hours.
She said that the last known body had been pulled from the debris, an elderly woman whose son had been holding a vigil at the rubble of what was once their home.
Amatrice is a hilltop beauty spot considered home of amatriciana, one of Italy’s favourite pasta sauces.
He added, “On the way out, we saw a pretty big chandelier swaying from side to side and I think that’s when we knew for sure”.
But Giorgia’s survival is sadly an anomaly so far in the massive rescue operation, which involves more than 5,400 rescuers from Italy’s Civil Protection agency, and many more from outside groups.
The European Mediterranean Seismological Center put the magnitude at 6.1.
Survivors of the the quake which struck the central part of Italy on Wednesday are still to recover from feelings of pain and shock after the tragic incident.
Sergio Perozzi, the mayor of the heavily affected city of Amatrice, said three-quarters of the town had been destroyed and no buildings were safe for shelter.
Asked if there were any dead he said: “Look there are houses that aren’t here anymore”. “But now I’ve also gotten used to the aftershocks”.
“Half the town is gone”, RAI quoted him as saying, according to Reuters. “There are people under the rubble. There’s been a landslide and a bridge might collapse”.
It comes after the United Kingdom government said it had offered help with the recovery effort following Wednesday’s quake, which killed at least 250 people.
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Fabio Curcio, head of Italy’s Civil Protection Department, called it a “serious earthquake” that resulted in “wounded” and “serious damage”, ANSA reported.
