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Central Italy earthquake: at least 35 dead in Amatrice, says town mayor – live Italy earthquake: at least 73 killed in mountain villages – live
(35 minutes later)
3.10pm BST
15:10
Death toll reaches 73
At least 73 people have been killed in the earthquake, according to Italy’s civil protection unit, as quoted by AFP.
Immacolata Postiglione, the head of the unit’s emergency department, announced the new toll at a press conference in Rome as rescue efforts continued in the mountain villages devastated by the quake.
3.00pm BST
15:00
Italian police have released helicopter footage of the worst-hit areas.
#terremoto le immagini dei paesi colpiti dal sisma dagli elicotteri della #poliziadistato pic.twitter.com/UIn5HawgO1
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14:57
The medieval church of Sant’Agostino in Amatrice appears to have been badly damaged in the earthquake.
MAP: Magnitude 6.2 earthquake levels #Amatrice in central Italy, damaging the medieval Church of Sant'Agostino pic.twitter.com/M68ezCgKMT
A guide to the area said the facade of the church included a 15th-century rose window and a sculpted late Gothic entrance.
Images from the town appeared to show the rose window had been destroyed.
The church also included notable statues of the Archangel Gabriel, the Virgin Annunciate and images of monks in ornamental motif on one of its cornices.
Inside there are prized 15th-century paintings of the Annunciation and the Madonna and Child with two Angels (1492), attributed to a painter from the circle of Vittore Crivelli and Pietro Alemanno.
Damage to the area’s heritage is being assessed, according to reported.ly’s Marina Petrillo.
Among destroyed buildings in Amatrice, 13th century churches with frescoes. Damage on artistic heritage in the area is being assessed.
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2.32pm BST2.32pm BST
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The Vatican has dispatched six of its firefighters to Amatrice to help with the rescue efforts, a papal spokesman told reporters.The Vatican has dispatched six of its firefighters to Amatrice to help with the rescue efforts, a papal spokesman told reporters.
Vatican: As a sign of closeness to the victims of the #ItalyEarthquake, Pope Francis sent six of the Vatican firemen to help in AmatriceVatican: As a sign of closeness to the victims of the #ItalyEarthquake, Pope Francis sent six of the Vatican firemen to help in Amatrice
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at 2.34pm BSTat 2.34pm BST
2.15pm BST2.15pm BST
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Here’s what’s left of Pescara del Tronto where at least 10 people were killed.Here’s what’s left of Pescara del Tronto where at least 10 people were killed.
Earlier Italy’s forestry police told AP that they had extracted dozens of people alive from the town.Earlier Italy’s forestry police told AP that they had extracted dozens of people alive from the town.
News footage from the hill town showed rescue workers being winched from a helicopter.News footage from the hill town showed rescue workers being winched from a helicopter.
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at 2.25pm BSTat 2.25pm BST
2.07pm BST2.07pm BST
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The US state department has urged Americans in Italy to contact their friends and families to offer reassurance they are safe.The US state department has urged Americans in Italy to contact their friends and families to offer reassurance they are safe.
US citizens in #Italy if you're safe after the #earthquake please contact family and friends, check in on social mediaUS citizens in #Italy if you're safe after the #earthquake please contact family and friends, check in on social media
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at 2.36pm BSTat 2.36pm BST
2.05pm BST2.05pm BST
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The Italian news agency Ansa estimates that the death toll has increased to 63, including that figure of at least 35 dead in Amatrice given by the local mayor. Ansa’s estimate also includes 11 people confirmed to be killed in Accumoli and another 10 victims in Pescara del Tronto.The Italian news agency Ansa estimates that the death toll has increased to 63, including that figure of at least 35 dead in Amatrice given by the local mayor. Ansa’s estimate also includes 11 people confirmed to be killed in Accumoli and another 10 victims in Pescara del Tronto.
#Terremoto, per il bilancio non ufficiale sono almeno 63 le vittime. Dati ufficiali e constatati dall'ANSA sul posto https://t.co/h6vJvOyp0U#Terremoto, per il bilancio non ufficiale sono almeno 63 le vittime. Dati ufficiali e constatati dall'ANSA sul posto https://t.co/h6vJvOyp0U
UpdatedUpdated
at 2.08pm BSTat 2.08pm BST
1.53pm BST1.53pm BST
13:5313:53
As aftershocks continue, Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology has charted a summary of seismic activity in central Italy over the last 12 hours.As aftershocks continue, Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology has charted a summary of seismic activity in central Italy over the last 12 hours.
Sequenza Sismica tra le province di Rieti Perugia Ascoli L'Aquila Teramo aggiornamento ore 12 https://t.co/UqVrhjJCypSequenza Sismica tra le province di Rieti Perugia Ascoli L'Aquila Teramo aggiornamento ore 12 https://t.co/UqVrhjJCyp
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at 1.59pm BSTat 1.59pm BST
1.42pm BST1.42pm BST
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Some of the victims are known to be children. Save the Children expressed its sadness and warned that children who survived were especially vulnerable to psychological trauma.Some of the victims are known to be children. Save the Children expressed its sadness and warned that children who survived were especially vulnerable to psychological trauma.
Its chief executive, Valerio Neri, said: “Children are the most vulnerable during emergencies and the impact of such events on their psyche is especially traumatic.Its chief executive, Valerio Neri, said: “Children are the most vulnerable during emergencies and the impact of such events on their psyche is especially traumatic.
“To help children cope with the trauma, it is important that parents and carers find a way to stay close to them and make them feel that they are safe and secure. It is important talk and play with them and, above all, listen. It is also important to prevent your children watching television and seeing images of the disaster.”“To help children cope with the trauma, it is important that parents and carers find a way to stay close to them and make them feel that they are safe and secure. It is important talk and play with them and, above all, listen. It is also important to prevent your children watching television and seeing images of the disaster.”
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at 2.36pm BSTat 2.36pm BST
1.22pm BST1.22pm BST
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Photographer Massimo Percossi captured what is likely to be one of the most enduring images of the earthquake. It shows an injured nun in Amatrice checking her mobile phone as she sat next to a victim laid out on ladder and covered in a blanket.Photographer Massimo Percossi captured what is likely to be one of the most enduring images of the earthquake. It shows an injured nun in Amatrice checking her mobile phone as she sat next to a victim laid out on ladder and covered in a blanket.
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at 1.34pm BSTat 1.34pm BST
1.11pm BST1.11pm BST
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AP has footage of a man and a girl being rescued from the rubble in Amatrice.AP has footage of a man and a girl being rescued from the rubble in Amatrice.
1.09pm BST1.09pm BST
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35 dead in Amatrice35 dead in Amatrice
At least 35 people have been killed in the town of Amatrice alone, Sky News Italy reports, citing the mayor, Sergio Perozzi.At least 35 people have been killed in the town of Amatrice alone, Sky News Italy reports, citing the mayor, Sergio Perozzi.
#Terremoto, sindaco #Amatrice: bilancio è di 35 morti #Canale50 https://t.co/JyQT9ybAWd#Terremoto, sindaco #Amatrice: bilancio è di 35 morti #Canale50 https://t.co/JyQT9ybAWd
Rai News cites the same figure.Rai News cites the same figure.
#terremoto +++ 35 vittime accertate solo ad #Amatrice +++ pic.twitter.com/QfF63xKqsw#terremoto +++ 35 vittime accertate solo ad #Amatrice +++ pic.twitter.com/QfF63xKqsw
The Italian Red Cross continues to search for survivors in the rubble of Amatrice.The Italian Red Cross continues to search for survivors in the rubble of Amatrice.
#Terremoto Amatrice, continuano le ricerche dei dispersi fra le macerie. Volontari #CRI sul posto. #UnItaliacheaiuta pic.twitter.com/19HQhZkpZF#Terremoto Amatrice, continuano le ricerche dei dispersi fra le macerie. Volontari #CRI sul posto. #UnItaliacheaiuta pic.twitter.com/19HQhZkpZF
AP has this video of rescue efforts in Amatrice.AP has this video of rescue efforts in Amatrice.
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at 1.14pm BSTat 1.14pm BST
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12:55
Here’s what we know so far:
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12.34pm BST
12:34
Video footage from Pescara del Tronto, where at least 10 people were killed, shows that much of the hill town has been reduced to rubble.
#Terremoto Pescara del Tronto. Il paese è raso al suolo. Macerie e soccorsi. Video @NicoleRamadori pic.twitter.com/TTFeslcZ1H
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12.31pm BST
12:31
Pope Francis turned his weekly general audience into a prayer service, according to Catholic publication Crux. The pope is reported to have said:
On hearing the news of the earthquake that has struck central Italy and which has devastated many areas and left many wounded, I cannot fail to express my heartfelt sorrow and spiritual closeness to all those present in the zones afflicted.
He offered his condolences to all who have lost loved ones and expressed his spiritual closeness to those who are “anxious and afraid”. He added:
I want to assure all the people of Accumoli, Amatrice, the diocese of Rieti, Ascoli Piceno and all the people of Lazio, Umbria and Le Marche of the prayers and close solidarity of the entire church.
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11.57am BST
11:57
Matteo Renzi’s office has tweeted this video of the prime minister’s statement.
Dichiarazione-video sul #terremoto.Non lasceremo solo nessuno https://t.co/eIo0TWuW5k
11.54am BST
11:54
Our graphics team have created slideover images to show before and after photographs from the towns worst hit.
Updated
at 12.17pm BST
11.42am BST
11:42
Jon Henley, our European affairs correspondent, summarises the latest developments in this story:
At least 38 people have died and many more are missing after a powerful earthquake struck a string of towns and villages in a swath of mountainous central Italy, razing homes, buckling roads and burying residents under mounds of rubble.
The 6.2-magnitude quake struck at 3.36am when most people in the hardest-hit towns of Amatrice, Accumoli and Arquata del Tronto were asleep, and was felt as far away as Rome – more than 93 miles (150km) away – authorities and witnesses said.
Residents and emergency services struggled to free people from dozens of buildings that collapsed into piles of masonry in the communities closest to the epicentre of the quake, in a remote area straddling the regions of Umbria, Marche and Lazio.
11.39am BST
11:39
A Sky News translator quoted Renzi saying:
Pulling people out of the rubble is difficult, but you can see how good civil protection workers have been. The work is carrying on and our priority is to get people out of the rubble.
In the afternoon I will visit the area and I will be involved with meetings with the authorities concerned: the head of the department for civil protection, and the minister for infrastructures and a great number of others.
At moments of difficulty Italy knows how to cope. And when things don’t go well, the whole of Italy demonstrates its most beautiful aspects. From now on we will make sure that we won’t leave any families or communes on their own. And it will really work, because in the next few hours we can save human lives from the rubble and give hope to those territories that have been so badly affected.
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at 12.19pm BST
11.28am BST
11:28
Renzi said he would visit the areas worst hit later today.
11.25am BST
11:25
Italy’s prime minister, Matteo Renzi, is giving a TV address. According to a BBC translator he said now is the time to cry but also to act. He said no area would be left behind in the rescue efforts.
#terremoto +++ Renzi: nessuno sarà lasciato solo. Nessuna famiglia, nessun comune. Momento commozione e azione +++ pic.twitter.com/7uSBnTuGJf
Updated
at 12.18pm BST
11.17am BST
11:17
The US Geological Survey gave coordinates for the epicentre of the quake as 42.822°N 13.126°E, which is about two miles (4km) north-east of Norcia and 40km north of Amatrice.
Updated
at 11.24am BST