Death toll in central Italy's quake climbs to 281

At least 281 people were killed in the devastating earthquake that hit the central regions of Italy in the early hours of Wednesday, according to ANSA on late Friday.

Some 221 people died in Amatrice and 11 in Accumoli, two towns in Rieti province that were the closest to the epicenter. The other 49 victims were registered between Arquata del Tronto and Pescara del Tronto in Ascoli Piceno province.

Some 387 injured people were hospitalized across Lazio, Marche, and Abruzzo regions.

Italy's Civil Protection said 238 people have been pulled alive from the rubble, and more than 2,100 people have been displaced by the quake.

There are no missing person in the Marche region, however, at least 15 people are still missing in the almost flattened town Amatrice, Mayor Sergio Pirozzi said Friday in an interview.

The town was hit by a 4.8-magnitude temblor on early Friday morning that caused further building collapse. One of the main bridge that was serving as an essential passage for aid and rescue workers was ordered to be closed.

Pirozzi was "deeply worried" that another bridge is at risk of collapse, which might cut off the access to the town.

Italian experts said Wednesday's quake left a "spoon-shaped" deformation along the fault line a few kilometres below the ground between Amatrice in Lazio and Norcia in Umbria. In nearby Accumoli, the ground level has even been lowered by 20 centimeters.

Meanwhile, in the Marche town of Ascoli Piceno, caskets of the victims from Arquata del Tronto have been arranged in a gymnasium, and a funeral ceremony will be held at the gymnasium on Saturday morning.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has declared a national day of mourning to coincide with the Aug. 27 funeral, with flags to fly at half-mast on all public buildings.

Renzi and Italian President Sergio Mattarella will attend the funeral ceremony and then visit some of the places hit by the quake in Lazio.

Source : XINHUA