Italy Begins Day of Mourning for Quake Victims as Death Toll Rises to 290

Italy Begins Day of Mourning for Quake Victims as Death Toll Rises to 290 (ABC News)

Italy's national day of mourning following Wednesday's deadly earthquake kicked off Saturday morning with an increase in the death toll to 290 and a series of aftershocks that rattled the already-frayed nerves of shaken residents.

Italy's Civil Protection agency said late Saturday morning that the death toll increased to 290 from 281 as bodies continued to be recovered. The number of injured is 387.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the aftershock struck at 4:50 a.m. local time with a magnitude of 4.2. The Italian Geophysics Institute measure the aftershock at 4.0.

The day of mourning will include a state funeral for some victims in the town of Ascoli Piceno. Premier Matteo Renzi and President Sergio Mattarella are slated to attend.

On Saturday morning, Mattarella toured Amatrice, a town devastated in the earthquake that has the highest death toll. Guided by town mayor, Sergio Pirozzi, Mattarella was taken only to the edge of the town, because it is too dangerous to enter the heart of the medieval town due to the extent of the destruction.

Ahead of the funeral, flower-topped caskets filled a gym where mourners are paying their respects to victims of the 6.2 magnitude quake.

More than 200 people were pulled alive from the devastation, including a 10-year-old girl rescued after spending 17 hours buried in a collapsed building. She was reported to be in stable condition after undergoing surgery.

Renzi has declared a State of Emergency and authorized 50 million euros to fund the recovery.

More than 2,000 people, left homeless by the quake, have been spending their nights in tent cities.

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