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| Central Italy earthquake: death toll rises to 120 – live | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| 6.22pm BST | |
| 18:22 | |
| Death toll rises to 120 | |
| The Italian prime minister, Matteo Renzi, has said at least 120 people have died in the earthquake, rising from 73 earlier in the day. | |
| Updated | |
| at 6.23pm BST | |
| 4.55pm BST | 4.55pm BST |
| 16:55 | 16:55 |
| Afternoon summary | Afternoon summary |
| Here is a summary of everything we know so far: | Here is a summary of everything we know so far: |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.01pm BST | at 5.01pm BST |
| 4.31pm BST | 4.31pm BST |
| 16:31 | 16:31 |
| Donations can be made to this number: | Donations can be made to this number: |
| #terremoto Italia Centrale: per donare numero solidale 45500 https://t.co/wgErcmIEpY pic.twitter.com/NSAKggQlKm | #terremoto Italia Centrale: per donare numero solidale 45500 https://t.co/wgErcmIEpY pic.twitter.com/NSAKggQlKm |
| 4.27pm BST | 4.27pm BST |
| 16:27 | 16:27 |
| Reuters reports that six of the Vatican’s 37 firefighters have travelled to Amatrice to help civil protection workers look for survivors still under the rubble and assist those already rescued. | Reuters reports that six of the Vatican’s 37 firefighters have travelled to Amatrice to help civil protection workers look for survivors still under the rubble and assist those already rescued. |
| 4.26pm BST | 4.26pm BST |
| 16:26 | 16:26 |
| The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, has said Germany is ready to provide any aid needed by Italy. At a news conference in Estonia, Merkel said: | The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, has said Germany is ready to provide any aid needed by Italy. At a news conference in Estonia, Merkel said: |
| The pictures we are seeing are awful. We will be ready to do everything we can to help Italy if needed, and our thoughts are with the people of the region today. | The pictures we are seeing are awful. We will be ready to do everything we can to help Italy if needed, and our thoughts are with the people of the region today. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.28pm BST | at 4.28pm BST |
| 4.22pm BST | 4.22pm BST |
| 16:22 | 16:22 |
| The earthquake in Italy throws the spotlight on lax construction laws, writes John Hooper. | The earthquake in Italy throws the spotlight on lax construction laws, writes John Hooper. |
| The death toll from the earthquake that hit Amatrice and other villages in central Italy is rising at an alarming rate. But so far it looks as if the number of fatalities will be substantially lower than when an earthquake of comparable force hit the nearby city of L’Aquila in 2009, killing 309 people. | The death toll from the earthquake that hit Amatrice and other villages in central Italy is rising at an alarming rate. But so far it looks as if the number of fatalities will be substantially lower than when an earthquake of comparable force hit the nearby city of L’Aquila in 2009, killing 309 people. |
| The casualty tally will nevertheless be far higher than it should be in a country of Italy’s wealth – but much lower than it might have been. The 6.2-magnitude earthquake, like the one that devastated L’Aquila, struck at night. | The casualty tally will nevertheless be far higher than it should be in a country of Italy’s wealth – but much lower than it might have been. The 6.2-magnitude earthquake, like the one that devastated L’Aquila, struck at night. |
| Had people been at work, in shops or at school, the outcome would have been much worse. Two years ago, Gian Vito Graziano, president of Italy’s National Council of Geologists, said that according to some estimates, if the L’Aquila earthquake had struck when students were in their classrooms, “the number of victims would have been thousands, not hundreds”. | Had people been at work, in shops or at school, the outcome would have been much worse. Two years ago, Gian Vito Graziano, president of Italy’s National Council of Geologists, said that according to some estimates, if the L’Aquila earthquake had struck when students were in their classrooms, “the number of victims would have been thousands, not hundreds”. |
| 4.11pm BST | 4.11pm BST |
| 16:11 | 16:11 |
| A family of four, including two boys aged 8 months and nine, were buried when their house in Accumoli imploded, Reuters reports. As rescue workers carried away the body of the infant, carefully covered by a small blanket, the children’s grandmother blamed God: “He took them all at once,” she wailed. | A family of four, including two boys aged 8 months and nine, were buried when their house in Accumoli imploded, Reuters reports. As rescue workers carried away the body of the infant, carefully covered by a small blanket, the children’s grandmother blamed God: “He took them all at once,” she wailed. |
| In Amatrice, a resident named Giancarlo said: “It’s all young people here, it’s holiday season, the town festival was to have been held the day after tomorrow so lots of people came for that. It’s terrible, I’m 65 years old and I have never experienced anything like this, small tremors, yes, but nothing this big. This is a catastrophe.” | In Amatrice, a resident named Giancarlo said: “It’s all young people here, it’s holiday season, the town festival was to have been held the day after tomorrow so lots of people came for that. It’s terrible, I’m 65 years old and I have never experienced anything like this, small tremors, yes, but nothing this big. This is a catastrophe.” |
| Lina Mercantini, of Ceselli, Umbria, about 75km away from the hardest hit area, said: “It was so strong. It seemed the bed was walking across the room by itself with us on it.” | Lina Mercantini, of Ceselli, Umbria, about 75km away from the hardest hit area, said: “It was so strong. It seemed the bed was walking across the room by itself with us on it.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.25pm BST | at 4.25pm BST |
| 3.50pm BST | 3.50pm BST |
| 15:50 | 15:50 |
| Seventeen crews from the state police have reportedly arrived in the affected areas to prevent looting: | Seventeen crews from the state police have reportedly arrived in the affected areas to prevent looting: |
| #Terremoto: per prevenire sciacallaggio 17 equipaggi dei Reparti Prevenzione Crimine della @poliziadistato hanno raggiunto le zone colpite | #Terremoto: per prevenire sciacallaggio 17 equipaggi dei Reparti Prevenzione Crimine della @poliziadistato hanno raggiunto le zone colpite |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.06pm BST | at 4.06pm BST |
| 3.40pm BST | 3.40pm BST |
| 15:40 | 15:40 |
| Christos Stylianides, the European commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management, has issued a statement. He said: | Christos Stylianides, the European commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management, has issued a statement. He said: |
| We express our heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the families and friends of those who have lost loved ones. | We express our heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the families and friends of those who have lost loved ones. |
| Our thoughts are also with the first responders and all those involved in the rescue operations. | Our thoughts are also with the first responders and all those involved in the rescue operations. |
| Italy is part of our European family and as the European Union we stand in full solidarity with the Italian people and the national authorities at this time. | Italy is part of our European family and as the European Union we stand in full solidarity with the Italian people and the national authorities at this time. |
| The EU is ready to help. | The EU is ready to help. |
| Stylianides said the commission’s emergency response coordination centre was closely monitoring the situation and had been in contact with the Italian civil protection authorities during the night regarding any help which could be requested. | Stylianides said the commission’s emergency response coordination centre was closely monitoring the situation and had been in contact with the Italian civil protection authorities during the night regarding any help which could be requested. |
| So far, the Italian authorities have requested that the copernicus emergency management services provide damage assessment satellite maps for the affected area. | So far, the Italian authorities have requested that the copernicus emergency management services provide damage assessment satellite maps for the affected area. |
| The EU ambassador to the US added: | The EU ambassador to the US added: |
| My condolences and sympathy to everyone affected by the #Italy earthquake. The EU stands ready to help https://t.co/HqY0YW89VW #terremoto | My condolences and sympathy to everyone affected by the #Italy earthquake. The EU stands ready to help https://t.co/HqY0YW89VW #terremoto |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.08pm BST | at 4.08pm BST |
| 3.35pm BST | 3.35pm BST |
| 15:35 | 15:35 |
| Over the past seven centuries, there have been “between 20 and 30” large, damaging quakes in the central Apennines, according to Joanna Faure Walker, a lecturer at University College London’s Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction, as quoted by AFP. | Over the past seven centuries, there have been “between 20 and 30” large, damaging quakes in the central Apennines, according to Joanna Faure Walker, a lecturer at University College London’s Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction, as quoted by AFP. |
| Seismologists pointed to the risk of aftershocks, which posed a threat to survivors and rescue teams because they could bring down damaged structures. “Aftershocks are likely to continue for several weeks,” said Sandy Steacy, of the University of Adelaide, Australia. “These earthquakes cause disproportionate damage for their size because they shake structures weakened in previous events.” | Seismologists pointed to the risk of aftershocks, which posed a threat to survivors and rescue teams because they could bring down damaged structures. “Aftershocks are likely to continue for several weeks,” said Sandy Steacy, of the University of Adelaide, Australia. “These earthquakes cause disproportionate damage for their size because they shake structures weakened in previous events.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.10pm BST | at 4.10pm BST |
| 3.31pm BST | 3.31pm BST |
| 15:31 | 15:31 |
| The earthquake hit in one of Italy’s most seismically prone regions and dangerous aftershocks are possible, scientists have said. | The earthquake hit in one of Italy’s most seismically prone regions and dangerous aftershocks are possible, scientists have said. |
| The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the quake occurred six miles (10km ) south-east of Norcia, measuring 6.2 on the moment magnitude scale and striking at a shallow depth of only 6.2 miles. | The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the quake occurred six miles (10km ) south-east of Norcia, measuring 6.2 on the moment magnitude scale and striking at a shallow depth of only 6.2 miles. |
| Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology placed its epicentre in Riete province, near the towns of Accumoli and Amatrice, at a depth of 4km. | Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology placed its epicentre in Riete province, near the towns of Accumoli and Amatrice, at a depth of 4km. |
| Bill McGuire, the emeritus professor of geophysical hazards at University College London, told the Science Media Centre (SMC) that “earthquakes are quite common in this part of central Italy” and pointed to the complex tectonics of the Apennines – the country’s mountainous “spine”. | Bill McGuire, the emeritus professor of geophysical hazards at University College London, told the Science Media Centre (SMC) that “earthquakes are quite common in this part of central Italy” and pointed to the complex tectonics of the Apennines – the country’s mountainous “spine”. |
| He added: “Although the region is not on a tectonic plate boundary, there are many active faults in the region, accumulating strain and releasing it periodically in moderate earthquakes of around magnitude 6.” | He added: “Although the region is not on a tectonic plate boundary, there are many active faults in the region, accumulating strain and releasing it periodically in moderate earthquakes of around magnitude 6.” |
| But, McGuire said, the record also shows that plus-6 quakes have also occurred in these regions. They often happen near the surface – something that makes a big difference in their impact. | But, McGuire said, the record also shows that plus-6 quakes have also occurred in these regions. They often happen near the surface – something that makes a big difference in their impact. |
| The moment magnitude scale is logarithmic, which means an increase of one unit (1.0) is equal to about 32 times more energy released in the event. | The moment magnitude scale is logarithmic, which means an increase of one unit (1.0) is equal to about 32 times more energy released in the event. |
| The closer the event is to the surface, the more shaking there is on the ground. | The closer the event is to the surface, the more shaking there is on the ground. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.11pm BST | at 4.11pm BST |
| 3.10pm BST | 3.10pm BST |
| 15:10 | 15:10 |
| Death toll reaches 73 | 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. | 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. | 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 | 3.00pm BST |
| 15:00 | 15:00 |
| Italian police have released helicopter footage of the worst-hit areas. | 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 | #terremoto le immagini dei paesi colpiti dal sisma dagli elicotteri della #poliziadistato pic.twitter.com/UIn5HawgO1 |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.02pm BST | at 3.02pm BST |