News Avenue

Saturday 27 August 2016

Italy earthquake: Mass funeral for 34 victims

A mass funeral is taking place in Italy for some of the 284 people killed in Wednesday's powerful earthquake.
The ceremony for 34 victims from the town of Arquata began at a sports hall in the regional capital, Ascoli Piceno.
The coffins, laid out in rows on the floor, include two painted white for two children killed.
The death toll from the quake, which struck a mountainous central region, rose overnight as more bodies were found.
Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is among those attending the funeral.
President Sergio Mattarella earlier visited Amatrice, the town with the most casualties.
Most victims were Italian, but several foreigners were among those killed,including three Britons.
  • Embracing couple among the victims
  • 'We are the lucky ones'
  • Read the survivors' stories
  • Aerial shots of quake-hit Italy
  • In pictures: before and after
Rescue efforts have been hampered by hundreds of aftershocks, with one severely damaging a key bridge into Amatrice.
"Let's hope it doesn't collapse or the town will be cut off from both sides," said Mayor Sergio Pirozzi.

At the scene: Lucy Grey, BBC News, Ascoli Piceno

A mourner at a funeral for those killed in the Italian earthquake, 27 August 2016Image copyrightAP
Preparations for today's funeral for dozens of those who lost their lives in the early hours of Wednesday morning were under way at first light.
Hearse after hearse arrived at the sports hall in the town of Ascoli Piceno.
Undertakers carefully carried floral wreaths into the hall where the coffins of 34 victims from Arquata del Tronto are lined up, including those of two young children. One of the wreaths carried simply said "Mamma".
In amongst the mourners and the media, there's a large security presence because both Italy's President and its Prime Minister will join the families to pay their respects.

More aftershocks were registered in the early hours of Saturday, one with a magnitude of four.
The ground beneath Accumoli, another severely affected village, sank 20cm (8in) as a result of the earthquake, satellite images obtained by Italy's scientific authorities show.
Funeral in in Ascoli Piceno for the victims of the Italian earthquake, on 27 August , 2016Image copyrightAP
A man grieving in Italy before mass funerals for those killed in Wednesday's earthquake, 27 August 2016Image copyrightAP
A workman looks at buildings damaged in Italy's earthquakeImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Flags are flying at half mast across the country as Italy remembers victims of the quake.
More than 200 people died in Amatrice alone. Along with Arquata and Accumoli, Pescara del Tronto was also hard-hit.
Many bodies have also been brought to a makeshift morgue in an aircraft hangar in the city of Rieti, where relatives have been identifying loved ones.
The first funeral for one of the earthquake's victims was held on Friday, for the son of a state official who died in Amatrice.
At least 388 people have been treated in hospital for their injuries while more than 2,000 people were made homeless.
The 6.2-magnitude quake hit in the early hours of Wednesday, 100km (65 miles) north-east of Rome.

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