Backgrounder: Chronology of major earthquakes since 2008   

People rest outdoors after an earthquake caused the collapse of St. Salvatore Hospital in Aquila April 6, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    ROME, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in a strong earthquake that hit central Italy early Monday has risen to 250, the Italian news agency ANSA said Wednesday.

    It came after rescue workers pulled 15 more dead bodies out of rubbles, the civil protection department was quoted as saying.

    The rescue operation is still going on.

Strong aftershock felt as Italy's rescue operation enters second day

A view of Santa Maria Paganica church, damaged after an earthquake in the Abruzzo capital L'Aquila April 7, 2009. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    ROME, April 7 (Xinhua) -- A strong aftershock with a magnitude of 5.5 to 5.7 on the MMS scale was felt in Italy's Abruzzo region as rescue operations entered into the second day on Tuesday. While death toll rose to more than 200.

    Italian Primier Silvio Berlusconi called for national solidarity "to face the situation by ourselves." Full story

Strong earthquake strikes central Italy

    ROME, April 6 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 rocked central Italy early Monday morning, damaging buildings in the epicenter, some 95 km northeast of Rome, local media reported.

    The temblor has caused the collapse of some buildings in the old town of Aquila, where the epicenter was located, the ANSA news agency reported, adding that many residents were panicked and fled to streets.   Full story

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

    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.

    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. Full story

Italy earthquake kills at least 150 people

    ROME, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The strong earthquake that hit central Italy on Monday has killed at least 150 people, injured some 1,500 and left around 70,000 homeless, Italian media reported on Tuesday.

    Rescuers, who have pulled 100 people alive out of damaged buildings, estimated that more than 150 people have been killed in the fatal 5.8-magnitude earthquake, but by the end of Monday only 98 people have been identified, local daily "Corrire della sera" said on its website. Full story

Chinese president expresses condolences over Italian quake

    BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday sent a message of condolences to his Italian counterpart Giorgio Napolitano over the heavy loss of life and property in a deadly earthquake that struck central Italy.

    In the message, Hu expressed condolences to the victims and their families and those affected by the earthquake on behalf of the Chinese government and people as well as in his own name.  Full story

UN chief voices sorrow over deadly earthquake

    UNITED NATIONS, April 6 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Monday expressed his sadness over the heavy loss of life in this morning's earthquake in central Italy, with the United Nations having alerted the European nation's government that it is prepared to provide disaster response support.

    According to media reports, the 6.3-magnitude quake has claimed more than 100 lives.  Full story

EU's Barroso extends condolences over Italian quake

    BRUSSELS, April 6 (Xinhua) -- European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso extended condolences on Monday over the powerful earthquake in central Italy that has killed at least 40 people.  Full story 

Russia to send relief aid to quake-stricken Italy

    MOSCOW, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Russia will send relief aid to quake-stricken Italy at the order of President Dmitry Medvedev, local media reported Monday.

    The Russian president conveyed in a telegram condolences to Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi over the loss of lives in the earthquake, the Interfax news agency reported, citing the Kremlin.  Full story