Italy Earthquake

A powerful earthquake of magnitude 6.3 has struck the city of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of central Italy.

The Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, has declared a state of emergency and is cutting short his travel schedule to return to Italy.

The city of L'Aquila is in ruins. More than 27 people have reportedly been killed and others are unaccounted for. Thousands have fled their homes.

A large number of buildings, including churches and a university dormitory, have collapsed. Rescue workers have arrived to look for survivors under debris. The city hospital is practically unable to cope, and people are being treated in the open air.

The scale of the disaster is still unknown as many villages have been isolated by landslides.

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