Earthquake leaves 29,000 homeless in central Italy
Around 29,000 people have been left homeless following the April 6 earthquake in the mountainous region of Abruzzo in central Italy, the regional governor said on Thursday.
The quake, measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale, affected 26 cities and towns in the province, with some villages being totally destroyed. The death toll has so far reached 279, and around a dozen people are still trapped under the rubble, Gianni Chiodi said.
Chiodi said around 19,000 people affected by the earthquake are living in makeshift camps in the regional capital, L`Aquila, and nearby villages. Another 10,000 people are staying in 170 hotels in Abruzzo.
Rescuers pulled out the bodies of three young men from the ruins of a dormitory in L`Aquila on Wednesday night. Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said the rescue work will continue until April 12.
Patrols involving 700 soldiers and police are to be deployed in the quake-hit areas to crack down on looting.
The Italian government had allocated 30 billion euros ($40 billion) to deal with the consequences of the earthquake.
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