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| Italy mourns quake victims as death toll approaches 160 (PHOTOS) | Italy mourns quake victims as death toll approaches 160 (PHOTOS) |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Rescuers continued to search for survivors in central Italian towns devastated by a 6.2-magnitude earthquake as the number of victims rose to 159 on Wednesday night. Accounts of lucky escapes and tragedies have emerged as communities struggle to cope with the aftermath. | Rescuers continued to search for survivors in central Italian towns devastated by a 6.2-magnitude earthquake as the number of victims rose to 159 on Wednesday night. Accounts of lucky escapes and tragedies have emerged as communities struggle to cope with the aftermath. |
| The dramatic rescue operation continued overnight into the early hours of Thursday as scores of people are still believed trapped under the rubble. Thousands have been left homeless. | The dramatic rescue operation continued overnight into the early hours of Thursday as scores of people are still believed trapped under the rubble. Thousands have been left homeless. |
| At least 86 victims come from the small towns of Amatrice and Accumoli that lie close to the epicenter of the quake, about 100 km from Rome. | At least 86 victims come from the small towns of Amatrice and Accumoli that lie close to the epicenter of the quake, about 100 km from Rome. |
| The ancient town of Amatrice, where an annual food festival celebrating the town’s customary spaghetti that typically lures thousands of tourists was to take place in three days, was reduced to rubble with three-quarters of the buildings demolished by the quake.Some 70 guests were checked into the collapsed Hotel Roma as they arrived in the town for the occasion. Five bodies, including that of an 11-year-old child, were removed from under debris before the rescue effort at the hotel was halted out of safety concerns. Dozens of guests are believed to be trapped. | The ancient town of Amatrice, where an annual food festival celebrating the town’s customary spaghetti that typically lures thousands of tourists was to take place in three days, was reduced to rubble with three-quarters of the buildings demolished by the quake.Some 70 guests were checked into the collapsed Hotel Roma as they arrived in the town for the occasion. Five bodies, including that of an 11-year-old child, were removed from under debris before the rescue effort at the hotel was halted out of safety concerns. Dozens of guests are believed to be trapped. |
| “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,” a local resident told Reuters. | “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,” a local resident told Reuters. |
| The rescue units have been joined by hundreds of volunteers who are trying to pull out survivors.However, the hopes of finding survivors have been diminishing with every hour.“Unfortunately, 90 percent of those we pull out are dead, but some make it, that's why we are here,” Christian Bianchetti, a volunteer in Amatrice, told AP. | The rescue units have been joined by hundreds of volunteers who are trying to pull out survivors.However, the hopes of finding survivors have been diminishing with every hour.“Unfortunately, 90 percent of those we pull out are dead, but some make it, that's why we are here,” Christian Bianchetti, a volunteer in Amatrice, told AP. |
| Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi called on his fellow citizens to unite in the face of the tragedy, as he visited the most heavily stricken area."We Italians are very good at arguing and being polemical, but now let's stand in solidarity and pride alongside those who are rescuing others," Renzi was cited as saying. | Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi called on his fellow citizens to unite in the face of the tragedy, as he visited the most heavily stricken area."We Italians are very good at arguing and being polemical, but now let's stand in solidarity and pride alongside those who are rescuing others," Renzi was cited as saying. |
| In the wake of the disaster, Amatrice Mayor Sergio Pirozzi said that the town “wasn’t there anymore.” | |
| Tents have been erected for hundreds of the now homeless residents, which will serve as temporary shelters. | |
| "Tonight will be our first nightmare night," local resident Alessandro Gabrielli told Reuters. | |
| ‘‘It was one of the most beautiful towns of Italy and now there's nothing left. I don't know what we'll do,'' another victim told AP. | |
| Next to the distress and mourning for whole communities, the successful rescues are rare moments of joy that instill hope into people. | |
| ‘‘She's alive!'' two women cried after a 10-year-old girl, who had been trapped under the ruins for 17 hours, was rescued. | |
| Many of the casualties from the quake are believed to be children, Health Minister Beatrice Lorenzin said after visiting the area. | |
| Renzi vowed to take every effort to rebuild the destroyed areas, saying that “their history, which has been so great, can't finish here,” as cited by RT’s Ruptly video agency. | |
| "Our credibility and honor depends on a real reconstruction that would prevent the inhabitants of these municipalities from leaving, to allow these beautiful places to start over,” Renzi said. | |
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