Italy Earthquake: Death toll rises to 120

Italy: According to a preliminary tally from the Civil Protection Department, death toll from an earthquake of magnitude 6.2 that struck Italy in the early hours of Wednesday has risen to 120 as rescue workers continue to battled to find survivors and it is assumed that the death toll could rise further as many victims are still trapped under the rubble.

The quake which was felt as far as Rome, which lies about 150km southwest of the quake's epicentre was followed by more than 50 aftershocks, the strongest a 5.4-magnitude quake.

In a national address before the visit of the Italian Prime Minister Mateo Renzi, he thanked the rescuers for their efforts and also pledged that; "We will leave nobody on their own."

Matteo Renzi during a visit to the site said the death toll has risen to 120, a figure that is likely to increase as rescuers searches through the rubble in cities, towns and villages across Lazio, Umbria and the Marches.

Officials said hundreds were injured and missing while thousands have been left homeless.

Italy will vigorously accelerate the ongoing rescue effort, he said, adding that “we will continue to find people alive.”

Several survivors, including a small girl, were rescued alive from heaps of debris as hospitals in the affected areas were quickly filled with injured people.

Amatrice Mayor Sergio Perozzi speaking to ANSA, said;

"Many are still trapped under the rubble," .

"We're preparing a spot for the bodies."

"Half of the town is gone," Perozzi said.

One boy was pulled out alive from the rubble in the town of Pescara del Tronto.

Doctors also rescued a 6-year-old boy from the rubble in Amatrice, while his twin brother was still missing.

The European Union offered whatever aid it could, including access to satellite navigation services.

"We stand, as ever, in solidarity with the Italian nation and are ready to assist in any way we can," tweeted European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker.