Death Toll Hits 267 In Central Italy

August 26, 2016 August 18, 2016 - Brenda Salazanger - Staff Writer

The official death toll in Italy’s 6.2 earthquake that struck this week has now risen to 267 according to Italy’s Civil Protection Department. Additionally more than 400 have been injured.

While it has now been over 48 hours since the temblor struck, dramatic rescues are still taking place, including that of a ten year old girl who was rescued after being trapped over thirty hours in debris. Miraculously she was unharmed.

When the girl was found, cheers erupted, but those cheers are becoming much less frequent. Rescue workers are relentless in their efforts to find more persons trapped in the rubble, but as dawn has brought another day, the expectations are dropping exponentially by the hour.

Rescue work is hampered by continual aftershocks. Yesterday a 4.7 aftershock brought down the rest of an elementary school which had partially collapsed in the 6.2 quake. Thankfully, no one was inside when the collapse happened.

Relief aid is pouring into the region from many sources, not just the government. So many people have lost everything, and as the death toll mounts, personal losses become even more catastrophic.

Donations to help the victims of Italy’s earthquake can be made to the Red Cross.