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Italy rescuers comb quake rubble Italy rescuers comb quake rubble
(about 1 hour later)
Italian rescuers are continuing to search for survivors under buildings wrecked by a devastating earthquake which killed at least 179 people.Italian rescuers are continuing to search for survivors under buildings wrecked by a devastating earthquake which killed at least 179 people.
With 1,500 injured and some 17,000 homeless after Monday's quake struck L'Aquila and its region, many survivors spent the night in shelters.With 1,500 injured and some 17,000 homeless after Monday's quake struck L'Aquila and its region, many survivors spent the night in shelters.
Emergency crews were hampered by after-shocks and rain, but have reportedly pulled 100 people alive from rubble.Emergency crews were hampered by after-shocks and rain, but have reportedly pulled 100 people alive from rubble.
Authorities put the number of people still missing at 34.Authorities put the number of people still missing at 34.
Rescuers were forced to briefly postpone their efforts as the after-shocks dislodged more rubble from buildings.Rescuers were forced to briefly postpone their efforts as the after-shocks dislodged more rubble from buildings.
Latest from Dominic Hughes, L'AquilaLatest from Dominic Hughes, L'Aquila
From close up, you realise that every single building has been affected. Some have just lost a few tiles, the windows are gone, or there are cracks in the plaster work.From close up, you realise that every single building has been affected. Some have just lost a few tiles, the windows are gone, or there are cracks in the plaster work.
In other buildings, it is much more dramatic - big chunks of them seem to have slid off, and yet more buildings have collapsed completely in on themselves.In other buildings, it is much more dramatic - big chunks of them seem to have slid off, and yet more buildings have collapsed completely in on themselves.
It demonstrates the random nature of this earthquake - there is a four-storey apartment block that has just collapsed flat like a pancake, and yet the two buildings on either side seem relatively unscathed.It demonstrates the random nature of this earthquake - there is a four-storey apartment block that has just collapsed flat like a pancake, and yet the two buildings on either side seem relatively unscathed.
A BBC correspondent in L'Aquila said the strongest came around 2200 GMT on Monday and made the ground feel like jelly for a few seconds.A BBC correspondent in L'Aquila said the strongest came around 2200 GMT on Monday and made the ground feel like jelly for a few seconds.
Survivors spent the night in hotels, cars or a tent city which has been erected in the medieval hill city. As rescue efforts continued:
At the tent city on the outskirts of the city, volunteers handed out blankets, food and water to evacuees numbering 600.
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  • >A 23-year-old student was pulled alive with the help of specialist cavers from the rubble of a four-storey building in L'Aquila about 20 hours after the quake struck
  • >One body was retrieved from a university dormitory at dawn on Tuesday, while rescuers continue to search for about four others believed trapped inside
  • >Cranes, diggers and other heavy lifting equipment were arriving in L'Aquila
Survivors spent the night in hotels, cars or one of several tent camps which has been erected in the medieval hill city.
At one tent city, volunteers handed out blankets, food and water to evacuees numbering 600.
Camp co-ordinator Paolo Diani said they were having to prioritise inadequate resources.Camp co-ordinator Paolo Diani said they were having to prioritise inadequate resources.
"As far as this first night is concerned, we gave shelter to elderly people and children, while we wait for more tents for everybody."As far as this first night is concerned, we gave shelter to elderly people and children, while we wait for more tents for everybody.
"And the tents will arrive tomorrow for all the population.""And the tents will arrive tomorrow for all the population."
As the pouring rain turned brick dust into a white sludge, exhausted emergency workers toiled through the night, pulling away bricks and broken pieces of wood with their bare hands.
Under the eerie glare of floodlights, they combed the rubble of a university dormitory where two students were reportedly found early on Tuesday and where several more were believed to be buried.
Cranes and diggers were also being used in the rescue effort.
In pictures: Race against time Survivors huddle in broken city Row over quake 'forecast' In pictures: Race against time Survivors huddle in broken city Row over quake 'forecast'
One charity said children would need help to recover from the trauma of the quake.
Save the Children's John Bugge said: "The children are showing signs of emotional stress - uncontrollable crying, fear of the dark."
"And these are all normal signs and we would expect that in children."
Many houses in L'Aquila have been reduced to rubble, and the streets are dotted with crushed cars.
Pouring rain overnight turned brick dust into a white sludge, hampering emergency workers as they moved bricks and broken pieces of wood with their bare hands.
Several people were arrested for looting and police were patrolling the area monitoring buildings ripped open by the quake, Reuters reported.Several people were arrested for looting and police were patrolling the area monitoring buildings ripped open by the quake, Reuters reported.
Many houses in L'Aquila have been reduced to piles of rubble, and the streets dotted with crushed cars. In the nearby village of Onna, with a population 350, the quake killed at least 38 people.
In the village of Onna, with a population 350, the quake killed at least 38 people.
At least 5,000 rescue workers are in the region and hospitals have appealed for help from doctors and nurses throughout Italy.At least 5,000 rescue workers are in the region and hospitals have appealed for help from doctors and nurses throughout Italy.
Live interactive map Historic L'Aquila reels
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said the country has the resources to handle the disaster.Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said the country has the resources to handle the disaster.
The state of emergency in place means that more resources can be brought in to give the region what it needs, the BBC's Duncan Kennedy reports from L'Aquila.
Shattered heritage
Between 3,000 and 10,000 buildings are thought to have been damaged in L'Aquila, making the 13th-Century city of 70,000 uninhabitable for some time.Between 3,000 and 10,000 buildings are thought to have been damaged in L'Aquila, making the 13th-Century city of 70,000 uninhabitable for some time.
Live interactive map Historic L'Aquila reels
Parts of many of the ancient churches and castles in and around the city have collapsed.Parts of many of the ancient churches and castles in and around the city have collapsed.
L'Aquila is considered one of Italy's architectural treasures, but the age of the buildings makes them vulnerable to quakes.L'Aquila is considered one of Italy's architectural treasures, but the age of the buildings makes them vulnerable to quakes.
"The damage is more serious than we can imagine," Giuseppe Proietti, a culture ministry official in Rome, told the Associated Press news agency."The damage is more serious than we can imagine," Giuseppe Proietti, a culture ministry official in Rome, told the Associated Press news agency.
"The historic centre of L'Aquila has been devastated.""The historic centre of L'Aquila has been devastated."
Are you affected? Are you in L'Aquila, Onna or Castelnuovo? Are you involved in rescue or relief operations? You can send us your experiences using the form below:Are you affected? Are you in L'Aquila, Onna or Castelnuovo? Are you involved in rescue or relief operations? You can send us your experiences using the form below:
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