Over 100 dead, some 1,500 injured in Italy earthquake

Source: Xinhua | 04-07-2009 07:57

ROME, April 6 (Xinhua) -- The strong earthquake that hit central Italy on Monday has killed more than 100 people, injured some 1,500 and left around 70,000 homeless, officials said.

Buildings of L'aquila University are seriously damaged triggered by the earthquake in L'aquila, Italy, April 6, 2009. The strong earthquake that hit central Italy on  Monday has killed more than 100 people, injured some  1,500 and left around 70,000 homeless, officials said. (Xinhua/Wang Xingqiao)

According to the local media, the official death toll was set at 91 earlier in the afternoon, but rescuers said the death toll has risen to 108.

Italian Police Chief Antonio Manganelli said the 6.2-magnitude tremor which occurred at 03:33 local time (0133 GMT) had left "a horrible scene of death and destruction."

One foreign national has so far been found among those killed, who was a female student from the Czech Republic.

Some 4,000 rescuers were at work and Italy will have access to the European Union's disaster fund, said Premier Silvio Berlusconi who canceled a trip to Moscow to be at the scene.

Helicopters were taking the most badly injured to hospital, while many of those who suffered minor injuries were being sent to Rome.