Italy mourns as death count of earthquake victims mounts

AMATRICE, Italy - National mourning for the victims of the 6.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Central Italy on Wednesday commenced on Saturday.

Flags will fly at half-mast across the country in memory of the quake victims.

Officials said the death toll has touched 278. Eight foreigners from Britain, Spain, Canada, El Savador are among those reported dead. No survivors have been found since Wednesday evening.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has announced a state of emergency for the affected regions of Umbria, Lazio and Marche. He has also offered 43 million pounds in aid and cancelled the taxes levied on residents.

PM Renzi and Italian President Sergio Mattarella are expected to attend a funeral service of the 46 people who died in the mountain villages of Arquata del Tronto and Pescara del Tronto today - the first of the many state funerals planned by the Italian government.

Over 900 aftershocks have been felt after the quake. These have further endangered rescue efforts.

The U.S. Geological survey said that the biggest aftershock which hit within hours of the quake, measured 4.7 on the Richter scale.  

Amatrice, the town located nearest to the epicenter in particular is in great danger as blocked roads threaten to obstruct flow of medical aid to the distressed. 218 people have reportedly died in the town.

 “We will go on searching and digging until we are certain there is no one left,” said Luigi D’Angelo, a Civil Protection officer working in Amatrice.

Emergency service workers are planning to start using mechanical diggers to move debris and thermal devices to check for human presence amid the debris.

Over 2,000 have been rendered homeless by the quake and spent the chilly nights under hastily erected tents.

Despite the trail of destruction in the aftermath of the quake, there have been heart-warming moments as well.

In a rare stroke of luck, rescue workers pulled out a girl named Giorgia after digging through mountains of debris for four hours with their bare hands.

 "At times like that you don't think, you go on for hours without feeling thirst or tiredness. We were sure she was safe only when we put her on a stretcher and doctors carried her away. Then we exploded with joy for this great result," Angelo Moroni, the rescue worker who pulled out Giorgia, reportedly told the ANSA news agency.

Additionally, migrants from Africa who have come to Italy to start a new chapter of life, were seen volunteering in rescue efforts. Dressed in orange overalls, the team of African migrants helped prepare the grounds of pitching tents and cleared a field for a helicopter landing.

"We saw people losing their lives and we feel bad. It (volunteering) is to show respect for them and their dignity," said Abdullah, one of the migrants from African state of Benin. 

The quake that struck Central Italy is expected to affect the country’s tourism industry and take an exacting toll on its stagnating economy.

Rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts after the quake could cost Italy $1.48 billion, say experts.

Questions are also being raised regarding the preparedness of Italy for quakes. Experts believe that despite having experienced a quake a few years back in 2009, the country was ill prepared for a quake this time around.

“Italy should have a plan that is not just limited to the management of emergency situations,” PM Renzi said.

The quake has also destroyed 50 and damaged 293 pieces of cultural heritage.

Italy is located on two fault lines and is one of the most seismically active regions in Europe.