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Central Italy earthquake: at least 38 dead in 6.2 quake – live Central Italy earthquake: at least 38 dead in 6.2 quake – live
(35 minutes later)
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35 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.
#Terremoto, sindaco #Amatrice: bilancio è di 35 morti #Canale50 https://t.co/JyQT9ybAWd
Rai News cites the same figure.
#terremoto +++ 35 vittime accertate solo ad #Amatrice +++ pic.twitter.com/QfF63xKqsw
The Italian Red Cross continue 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
AP has this video of rescue efforts in Amatrice.
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Here’s what we know so far:
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Video footage from Pescara del Tronto, where at least 10 people were killed, shows that much of the hill town have been reduced to rubble. 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#Terremoto Pescara del Tronto. Il paese è raso al suolo. Macerie e soccorsi. Video @NicoleRamadori pic.twitter.com/TTFeslcZ1H
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Pope Francis turned his weekly general audience into a prayer service, according to Catholic publication Crux. The pope is reported to have said: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.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: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.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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Matteo Renzi’s office has tweeted this video of the prime minister’s statement.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/eIo0TWuW5kDichiarazione-video sul #terremoto.Non lasceremo solo nessuno https://t.co/eIo0TWuW5k
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Our graphics team have created slideover images to show before and after photographs from the towns worst hit.Our graphics team have created slideover images to show before and after photographs from the towns worst hit.
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Jon Henley, our European affairs correspondent, summarises the latest developments in this story: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.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.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.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.
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A Sky News translator quoted Renzi saying: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.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.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.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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Renzi said he would visit the areas worst hit later today.Renzi said he would visit the areas worst hit later today.
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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.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#terremoto +++ Renzi: nessuno sarà lasciato solo. Nessuna famiglia, nessun comune. Momento commozione e azione +++ pic.twitter.com/7uSBnTuGJf
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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.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.
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The president of the European commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, has written to Italy’s prime minister, Matteo Renzi, expressing solidarity and offering assistance.
We stand, as ever, in solidarity with the Italian nation and are ready to assist in any way we can. #ItalyEarthquake pic.twitter.com/l7yEZWrvth
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The official death toll has increased again and is expected to rise further, Reuters reports.
At least 38 people died in a powerful earthquake that hit central Italy early on Wednesday, a spokeswoman for the civil protection department said.
The quake struck towns and villages in the mountainous heart of the country, which was making the rescue operation more difficult, said spokeswoman Immacolata Postiglione.
Speaking to journalists, Postiglione said 27 people had died between the towns of Accumoli and Amatrice, and a further 10 had died in the nearby Arquata area. Later in her press conference she upped the death toll to 38, without giving further details.
Rai News cited the same figure.
#terremoto Protezione civile aggiorna: 38 i morti, 10 ad Arquata del Tronto, 28 tra Amatrice e Accumoli @RaiNews
10.40am BST
10:40
At least 37 dead
At least 37 people were killed in the earthquake, according to a spokeswoman for Italy’s civil protection agency quoted by Reuters.
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The Italian news agency Aska News has footage of several people being rescued from the debris in Amatrice, one of the worst-hit towns.
The centre of the town was reduced to rubble as entire buildings collapsed, according to the Associated Press.
Rocks and metal tumbled on to the streets and dazed residents huddled in piazzas as some 39 aftershocks jolted the region into the early morning hours, some as strong as 5.1.
“The whole ceiling fell but did not hit me,” said resident Maria Gianni. “I just managed to put a pillow on my head and I wasn’t hit luckily, just slightly injured my leg.”
Another woman, sitting in front of her destroyed home with a blanket over her shoulders, said she didn’t know what had become of her loved ones.
“It was one of the most beautiful towns of Italy and now there’s nothing left,” she said, too distraught to give her name. “I don’t know what we’ll do.”
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Joanna Ruck
Images from Amatrice before and after the earthquake struck show the extent of the impact.
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The Italian Red Cross has urged drivers to avoid using the Via Salaria, the main road north-east of Rome, so that rescue workers can reach the worst-hit areas.
#Terremoto, automobilisti invitati ad evitare di percorrere Via Salaria per permettere ai mezzi di soccorso di raggiungere le zone colpite.
Via Salaria, Rome
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Nine people are confirmed dead in Accumoli, with at least three other people missing, the mayor has told Rai News. The official also said at least 2,000 have been left homeless.
#terremoto sindaco #Accumoli: 9 morti e 3-4 dispersi. Almeno 2.000 sfollati pic.twitter.com/Hehp5E04QI
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The clock on a tower in Amatrice stopped just after 3.35am when the earthquake struck.
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The mayor of Accumoli confirms four dead and eight missing in the village, according to state broadcaster. Earlier it reported that six people had been killed in Accumoli.
NEWS/ #Terremoto: sindaco Accumoli, al momento 4 morti e 8 dispersi.
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Video has emerged showing the extent of the devastation in Pescara del Tronto, where at least 10 people were killed. It starts with an aerial view of the damage to the hill village, then cuts to views of rubble-strewn streets and ends with a team of officials discussing the rescue plan.
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