150 killed in Italian earthquake, officials say

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Jolie77

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L'AQUILA, Italy (CNN) -- The death toll from Monday morning's earthquake in mountainous central Italy has risen to 150, fire officials in L'Aquila reported.

Police and volunteers dig through earthquake rubble in L'Aquila, Italy.

Rescuers were digging through rubble with bare hands for survivors after the magnitude 6.3 quake, which devastated the city of L'Aquila and nearby towns, left thousands homeless and injured more than 1,500.

Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who canceled a trip to Russia so he could visit the quake zone, declared a state of emergency.

He said a tent city was being set up to accommodate survivors whose homes were ruined in the disaster. Many survivors were seen clutching suitcases as they made their way through rubble-strewn streets.

"The fundamental thing I want to say is that nobody will be left alone," Berlusconi said at a news conference in L'Aquila.

He said 4,000 rescuers were searching for survivors and trying to extract them from debris.

The predawn jolt struck near the historic college city of L'Aquila, about 95 kilometers (60 miles) north of the capital Rome, where tremors could be felt.

Frightened residents rushed into streets after the 30-second quake, which hit around 3.30 a.m. local time, while most were sleeping. iReport.com: 'The house shook for such a long time'

Buildings, many of them dating back to the 13th century, toppled. Boulders blocked roads. Rubble filled streets and buried parked cars; fragments of walls torn from buildings amassed at their foundations.

Narrow medieval streets in L'Aquila and the mountain towns and villages close to the epicenter were making it difficult for rescue vehicles and equipment to access some areas.

Italian Red Cross spokesman Tomasso Della Longa said the group was providing medical aid and tents for survivors, but he added the extent of what help is needed would not be known until Tuesday.

Journalist Delia Gallagher said rescuers were forced to use their hands to dig through ruined buildings in the hunt for survivors.

She described how one woman was pulled alive from the wreckage of a building that had collapsed. Ten hours after the quake hit, rescuers were trying to listen for more survivors.

Churches and other historic structures suffered badly, according to Joshua Brothers, an American missionary in L'Aquila.

"If you look along the way there are many palazzi that are cracked, walls have fallen in on some of them," he said.

"Most of the buildings in the city center are more than a hundred years old, and so they have walls that are a lot weaker than other palazzi that are made of reinforced concrete. So there were a lot more damages actually inside the city."

With some areas yet to report the extent of the damage, the death toll was expected to rise.

Local police said the toll in L'Aquila alone was at least 50.

Pope Benedict XVI was praying for the "victims, especially the children," killed in the quake, the Vatican said, according to ANSA.

In Turkey, President Obama expressed his concerns for those affected.

Tens of thousands of people have been put out of their homes, according to the mayor of L'Aquila. Many of the homeless were being taken to the city's main stadium.

Part of the region is without electricity, and crews were checking for gas leaks.

Gallagher said she saw residents carrying their remaining possessions in battered suitcases as they walked away from ruined areas.

The earthquake came less than six hours after another quake hit the northern part of the country, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. That quake registered 4.6 and occurred about 55 km (35 miles) southeast of Bologna.

Three significant aftershocks -- ranging from magnitude 4.3 to 4.8 -- shook the area within six hours of the 6.3 quake.

L'Aquila is the capital of the central Italian Abruzzo region. Earthquakes are common in the region, and residents are reportedly taught to go into open areas as soon as a quake strikes.
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Italy itself is close to two major geological fault lines, making it one of the most earthquake-prone countries in Europe.

A 6.5-magnitude quake in southern Italy in 1980 killed nearly 3,000 people. Other quakes in 1908, 1915 and 1930 killed tens of thousands.
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150 killed in Italian earthquake, officials say - CNN.com
 
I read about it this mornin'. So sad....
 
Mother nature is flexing her muscles, again!

My thoughts are with those.
 
In nomine christi, Amen.
A tragedy has fallen upon the undeserving citizens of Italy.

May we hold a moment of silence for them.

Now let this be a reminder for those near the pacific plate; hope you are prepared for any upcoming disaster.
 
Ahhh, I feel for those victims and the relatives/friends who lost them. It indeed was a bad quake there.
 
last earthquake was on oct 31, 2002 but that is big one since 1980. I was like eh.. but damn my mom's friend was in italy but got back last week before that happened. :shock:
 
Yes I saw it on TV yesterday... It´s fourth time...

That´s terrible :(

My thought with them... :(
 
Our 2nd resident at near Venice, Italy. Next week, I will find out more information from my brother in law.
 
My question is why aren't the buildings retrofitted to withstand the earthquakes?
 
Byrdie714 said:
My question is why aren't the buildings retrofitted to withstand the earthquakes?
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Perhaps it's because some of the buildings are so old and couldn't be affordable to be retrofitted to withstand these earthquakes? :dunno:
 
Babyblue said:
Perhaps they were Historic Buildings? Or did not have the means or the funding to do so.
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Not really historic building on this site.


Byrdie714 said:
My question is why aren't the buildings retrofitted to withstand the earthquakes?
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1) No reason to new buildings. Not much change for long time.
2) Italy is lowest population growth.
3) They have plenty many old buildings in far away from big cities.
4) most people do not want to live far away from workplace. Not cheap cost of gas and lack of car parking lots.

Italy and USA are big different buildings.
In Italy, they used to have cement wall. Not like in the USA, we used to have drywall. Most italian people made fun to me that American's houses (easier to catch fire). I told them easier to cut the drywall to fix plumbing or install new electric system, cable tv, etc. Cheaper cost to fix better than Italy's buidings.

I like cement wall because save energy in heater/AC (not much leak).


In Naples, they have some buildings retrofitted to withstand the earthquakes. I know our family's friend works as architecturer in Naples Metro. He showed me blue print and pictures of inside new buildings which has new design for earthquake proof
 
That is so sad, my prayers and thoughts for them. :(
 
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