Strong quake hits Italy

60% of Italian heritage sites at risk of earthquakes

The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Uffizi Gallery in Florence and Hadrian's Villa near Rome are among some 60 percent of Italy's heritage sites at risk of earthquakes, the Italian culture ministry said Thursday. Full story

LATEST NEWS

00:24 GMT
Italy to open quake-damaged monuments to "foreign adoption" soon
15:57 GMT
Italy vows to deter mafia presence in quake rebuilding projects
06:25 GMT
Italy probes construction faults of quake-ruined houses
04:39 GMT
Earthquake survivors in Italy celebrate Easter Mass amid ruins, auguish
05:07 GMT
Death toll from quake in central Italy reaches 293
19:45 GMT
EU responds to assistance request from quake-stricken Italy
22:48 GMT
Italy holds national funeral for victims of earthquake in L'Aquila
13:36 GMT
Italy holds state funeral as quake toll hits 289
06:26 GMT
Scientists dismiss prediction of Italy earthquake
04:00 GMT
Mexican rescuers head for Italy quake zone

BACKGROUND

Chronology of major earthquakes since 2008

The following is a chronology of major earthquakes around the world since 2008:

Cultural ministry: 60% of Italian heritage sites at risk of earthquakes

2009-04-17 02:37:28 GMT Xinhua English ROME, April 16 (Xinhua) -- The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Uffizi Gallery in Florence and Hadrian's Villa near Rome are among some 60 percent of Italy's heritage sites at risk of earthquakes, the Italian culture ministry said Thursday.

Death toll from quake in central Italy reaches 293

2009-04-12 05:07:39 GMT ROME, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Italian police said Saturday that the death toll from the earthquake in central Italy's Abruzzo region has risen to 293 while about 40,000 people were left homeless.

Italy holds state funeral as quake toll hits 289

2009-04-10 13:36:51 GMT SINA.com Italy held a state funeral on Friday for victims of its worst earthquake in three decades, as the death toll climbed to 289 and survivors voiced anger that houses simply collapsed.

Death toll from quake in central Italy rises 287, with 29,000 others homeless

2009-04-10 02:36:20 GMT Xinhua English ROME, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from the earthquake in central Italy's Abruzzo region rose to 287 on Thursday, Italian media reported.

Rescue & Disaster Relief

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Italy to open quake-damaged monuments to "foreign adoption" soon

2009-04-17 00:24:19 GMT Xinhua English ROME, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Italy will present 38 monuments damaged by the April 6 earthquake in L'Aquila and surrounding towns for "adoption" by countries that have volunteered to help fund their repair, Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi said on Thursday.

Italy vows to deter mafia presence in quake rebuilding projects

2009-04-16 15:57:53 GMT L'AQUILA, Italy, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said here on Thursday that the mafia would be kept out of the reconstruction of the Abruzzo capital L'Aquila and neighboring towns ravaged by the April 6 earthquake.

Italy earthquake reconstruction will cost billions

2009-04-15 09:34:48 GMT SINA.com ROME – Italy's interior minister has estimated that at least euro12 billion (about $16 billion) will be needed to reconstruct the area ravaged by an earthquake more than a week ago.

Italy probes construction faults of quake-ruined houses

2009-04-15 06:25:13 GMT Xinhua English ROME, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The Italian government has launched a judicial inquiry after several buildings which had collapsed in the L'Aquila earthquake were found made of poor materials.

World Reaction

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EU responds to assistance request from quake-stricken Italy

2009-04-11 19:45:40 GMT Xinhua English BRUSSELS, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Several member states of the European Union (EU) have rapidly responded to an Italian request for technical experts, who can support the country in assessing the stability of buildings damaged by a strong earthquake.

Pakistani leaders condole loss of lives in Italy

2009-04-07 23:08:28 GMT ISLAMABAD, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Tuesday expressed their condolences on the loss of lives due to an earthquake in Italy, according to official Associated Press of Pakistan.

Obama expresses condolences over Italy earthquake

2009-04-07 20:03:22 GMT Xinhua English WASHINGTON, April 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday called Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to express condolences over the heavy loss of life and property in a deadly earthquake that struck central Italy on Monday.

Chinese president expresses condolences over Italian quake

2009-04-07 12:57:02 GMT Xinhua English 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.