Italy Declares State of Emergency as Earthquake Death Toll Hits 250

Italy's government declared a state of emergency in the areas hit hardest by the massive earthquake on Wednesday. The 6.2 magnitude quake struck in the early hours of Wednesday in central Italy, severely damaging several towns.

At the minimum, 250 people have died from the disaster while 365 other people were injured. Rescue teams have continued to work through the rubble of destroyed buildings for a second night, but hopes of finding more survivors are dimming.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has pledged 42 million pounds in funds for rehabilitation of the affected areas. Aside from the funds, the Italian premier has scrapped taxes for locals in the disaster zones. He also announced a new measure called “Italian Homes” to address the criticism of the Italian media over poor-quality home construction, but he also stated that it was ridiculous to think that the nation could establish full quake-proof establishments.

News are provided by InstaForex