Hundreds dead after quake

AMATRICE: The death toll from a devastating earthquake in central Italy reached at least 241 yesterday and could rise further after rescue teams worked through the night to try to find survivors under the rubble of flattened towns.

The 6.2 magnitude quake struck a cluster of mountain communities 140km east of Rome early on Wednesday as people slept, destroying hundreds of homes.

The civil protection department officially revised the death toll down to 241 from a previous 247 given earlier yesterday.

Officials said they expected to confirm more deaths as the search operation continued. Trucks full of rubble left the area every few minutes, including one in which a dusty doll could be seen lying on top of tons of debris.

Yesterday, the sun rose on frightened people who had slept in cars or tents.

The earth continuing to tremble under their feet from aftershocks, hundreds of which have struck since the quake.

Two registered 5.1 and 5.4, just before dawn.

“I haven’t slept much because I was really afraid,” said 70-yearold Arturo Onesi from the town of Arquata del Tronto, who spent the night in a tent camp for survivors and rescue workers. – Reuters