Italian PM Matteo Renzi Declares Quake Area State Of Emergency

The Queen makes a personal donation to the Italian Red Cross as it emerges three Brits are among those killed by the tremor.

Friday 26 August 2016 21:54, UK

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Italy's Prime Minister has declared a state of emergency in the area affected by the earthquake which killed at least 281 people.

It came as a strong 4.7-magnitude aftershock struck near the worst-hit town of Amatrice on Friday morning.

PM Matteo Renzi has authorised an initial €50m (£42m) in crisis funding to start the rebuilding process and offered to cancel taxes for those affected.

He also called for a national collective effort - dubbed Italian Homes - to build dwellings for the future that will be safe in the event of other quakes.

The Queen has made a personal donation to help search and rescue work being carried out by the Italian Red Cross.

Buckingham Palace said the donation - the amount of which was unspecified - was given to the British Red Cross, of which The Queen is a patron.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have previously said they were "saddened to hear of the loss of life" and sent their "thoughts and prayers" to the "people of Italy, especially the family and friends of those affected".

The 6.2-magnitude earthquake comes just seven years after more than 300 died after a tremor in L'Aquila, prompting concerns that not enough is being done to protect people's property and lives.

Mr Renzi said: "Just as the pain we feel today is strong, so, too, is the pride that belongs to a nation that is able to react in this way to a state of emergency.

"But that is not enough and we must think beyond the state of emergency, that there is a need for a bigger plan, and we will do that together."

Three Britons were killed in the Italian earthquake in the village of Sommati, just outside Amatrice.

Two of those killed were the owners of an apartment that was hit by the quake.

The other was the teenage son of another family who were staying with the owners.

:: Why Tremors Happen Almost Daily In Italy

Dozens of people are still believed to be trapped in Amatrice, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto, three of the worst-hit towns.

The Local news website said Amatrice normally has a population of around 2,500 but was packed with visitors when the quake struck.

Image: A collapsed house following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy
Image: A destroyed car is seen following the earthquake in Amatrice
Image: A building is severely damaged after being struck by the earthquake
Image: Rescuers walk through rubble following the earthquake in Amatrice
Image: An injured person is carried away on a stretcher following an earthquake at Pescara del Tront
Image: A man walks amid the carnage in Pescara del Tronto, after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake hits central Italy
Image: Rocco Girardi. 75, is rescued from ruins in Arquata del Tronto
Image: An aerial view shows the decimated hamlet
Image: A man is pulled alive from the rubble in Amatrice
Image: A girl is rescued from the rubble in Amatrice
Image: Rescuers and people walk along a road in Accumoli di Rieti
Image: Rescuers continue to look for survivors in the devastated town of Amatrice
Image: Rescuers gather food and basic necessities for survivors in Amatrice
Image: Collapsed buildings in Amatrice
Image: Amatrice is among the worst-hit towns
Image: Shocked residents assess the damage in Amatrice, in northern Lazio
Image: An injured woman is carried to safety in Amatrice
Image: Rescuers search through the rubble of a collapsed house in Amatrice
Image: The interior of a house after the quake in Amatrice
Image: A woman in tears as she is led to safety after being rescued from her home
Image: The quake was felt across a large swathe of Italy
Image: A police officer searches through rubble
Image: The earthquake hit just after 3.30am local time and sent people running from their homes
Image: The epicentre of the quake was near near Norcia in Umbria
Image: Rescuers dig through the ruins in Amatrice
Image: A dog is rescued from the earthquake rubble
Image: Rescuers work following an earthquake that hit Amatrice
Image: Rescuers work at a collapsed house
Image: A damaged house in Arquata del Tronto, in the Marche region
Image: The wall has crumbled in the side of a house in the quake
Image: Cracks in a damaged house in Arquata del Tronto
Image: The once picturesque town of Arquata del Tronto is reduced to ruins
Image: A home ripped apart by the quake
Image: A drone photo shows the damages following an earthquake in Pescara del Tronto, central Italy
Image: Rescuers work at a collapsed building in Amatrice
Image: Volunteers work to move rubble and debris during search and rescue operations in Amatrice, central Italy, following an earthquake

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said extra Foreign Office staff had been sent to the region to help provide support to Britons who have been affected.

Scores of aftershocks have been felt in the area where rescue work is under way.

At least 365 others were injured in the initial earthquake and the aftermath, which included a 4.3-magnitude aftershock the day after the first quake.

Although a few people are still being pulled out from rubble alive, a volunteer in Amatrice said 90% of those they find are dead.

Italian PM Matteo Renzi Declares Quake Area State Of Emergency

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