Officials Say 70 dead, 1,500 Hurt in Italy Quake

[tekisui]

Source: AP

L'AQUILA, Italy – Officials say more than 70 people have been killed in Italy's earthquake and that 1,500 people have been injured.

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his civil protection chief, Guido Bertolaso, held a press conference after reaching the central Italian city of L'Aquila, hit by a powerful earthquake as residents slept.

Berlusconi warned that more temblors were possible and said no one would be allowed to remain in damaged homes. He said many buildings in the city's historic center were at risk of collapse.

Bertolaso told reporters that "the victims are even more than 70."

The quake struck about 70 miles (110 kilometers) northeast of Rome at 3:32 a.m. local time (0132 GMT), officials said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090406/ap_on_re_eu/eu_italy_earthquake

[malaise]

1. They don't have a clue how many people are dead

A 3.00am earthquake in an ancient town with thousands of buildings destroyed means the death toll will be in the 100s if not higher.

[tekisui]

3. You are right.

Events like this take time to evaluate all the damage. They said thousands of buildings have crumbled. The death toll has been increasing by the hour.

[tekisui]

4. Al Jazeera saying at least 90 now.

At least 90 people, including several children, have been killed after a strong earthquake destroyed thousands of buildings in central Italy.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2009/04/2009462312804620.html

[bdamomma]

2. terrible situation.

:-(

[malaise]

5. And getting worse

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7986727.stm
<snip>
In one area of L'Aquila, rescuers tried to hush wails of grief as they pinpointed the screams of people trapped beneath debris, a Reuters correspondent reports.

In the village of Onna, population 350, the quake killed at least 24 people.

"There's a lot of people dead, there's a lot of people dead," said villager Valentina Brunetto.

"They're young people, young people dead under the house."