Death toll following Italian earthquake rises

As predicted, the death toll following yesterday's earthquake in Italy has risen drastically.

The number of people dead has risen to at least 247, yet there are still believed to be more bodies and possible survivors under the rubble.

Rescue teams, made up of more than 4,300 workers, have been working through the night, and continue their efforts throughout today, using heavy pieces of lifting machinery, and their bare hands.

The quake, which hit central Italy in the early hours of yesterday morning, had a magnitude of 6.2. The earthquake struck at 03:36 (01:36 GMT), with the epicentre hitting Norcia, a town 105 miles’ northeast of Rome. The quake had a shallow depth of 10km.

Several powerful aftershocks have since occurred, including one with a magnitude of 4.7.

Cheers were made by onlookers as a 10-year-old girl was pulled from the rubble alive late last night. The girl was rescued from the rubble in the village of Pescara del Tronto, where she had been for around 17 hours. The mayor of the village said that almost all of the houses had collapsed.

Many people who were living in the affected areas spent the night either outside, or in tents provided by the emergency services.

Rescue teams are continuing their searches for survivors and bodies.