Death toll from huge quake in central Italy rises to 290

Death toll from a devastating earthquake that ruined parts of central Italy has reached 290 as the country observed a national day of mourning Saturday along with a funeral ceremony for some of the victims.

According to the reports, Italy’s civil protection agency said in a statement that the tally rose to 230 confirmed deaths in Amatrice, the worst hit town, in Rieti province as more bodies were recovered.

Elsewhere, in Accumoli, located in the same province, 11 people were announced dead, and in Arquato del Tronto, in the province of Ascoli Piceno, 49 others lost their lives.

In the early hours of August 24, a powerful earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale hit Italy, and almost flattened scores of towns and villages in the central parts. The quake was followed by a series of aftershocks, the strongest of which measured 4.2, rattling the already hit areas.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi joined hundreds of mourners at a state funeral for some 40 victims of the quake at a community gymnasium in the town of Ascoli Piceno, the capital of March region.

The 2,000-population town of Amatrice is now in ruins with only a few buildings left standing.

In 2009, Aquila in central Italy was jolted by a 6.3-magnitude quake. Over 300 people died in the natural disaster.

SS