L’AQUILA – Italy prepared yesterday to begin burying some of the 260 people killed in medieval towns flattened by a quake, while rescuers hampered by aftershocks hunted for people who may be buried alive in rubble.
A mass state funeral for the victims and a national day of mourning are expected to be held tomorrow, although the first two private services were due for yesterday. Pope Benedict prayed for the victims and said he would visit the area soon.
The death toll climbed to 260 after rescuers pulled more bodies from the rubble and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said in total 28 000 had lost their homes, with 17 000 now living in tents and the rest in free hotel rooms or staying with family.
Aftershocks from Italy’s worst quake in three decades lasted until yesterday in mountainous Abruzzo and were felt in Rome.
The strongest 5.6 magnitude shock late on Tuesday toppled parts of the basilica and station in the city of L’Aquila, which bore the brunt of the disaster, and claimed one more victim.
‘We’re in shock because we have lost our loved ones, the town has been reduced to rubble with over 40 dead and lots of them were young, a whole generation canceled out,’ said Antonella Massi in Onna, a village that once had 300 residents.
– Nampa-Reuters
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