Italy quake: state of emergency declared as rescue operation continues

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The number of people killed in Wednesday’s earthquake in central Italy now stands at a least 278.

The latest provisional death toll came as a powerful aftershock struck the hill-side town of Amatrice early on Friday morning, one of the worst-hit areas.

For now at least rescue and emergency teams continue to search for survivors, but in reality their work is now a recovery operation.

Italy’s Civil Protection department says nearly 400 other people remain in hospital – around 40 are said to be in a critical condition.