Italy holds state funeral for victims of earthquake
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Mourners gathered in the Italian town of Ascoli Piceno on Saturday for a state funeral for some of the victims of Wednesday’s (August 24)powerful earthquake.
Italy declared Saturday a day of mourning to honour the victims.
Among those grieving were Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Prime Minister Matteo Renzy and other political leaders.
Flags across Italy flew at half-mast as the death toll hit 290.
Packed sports hall in #AscoliPiceno is the venue of the funeral of 34 victims – mainly from #Arquata town pic.twitter.com/Us0armqf3u
— Julián Miglierini (@julianmig) August 27, 2016
Mattarella flew to Amatrice by helicopter on Saturday to see the damage first hand before travelling on later in the morning to the nearby city of Ascoli Piceno for the funeral of up to 40 of the victims.
More than 1,000 aftershocks continued to rattle the area bringing fresh damage.
Although rescuers continued to search mounds of rubble, there was little hope of finding survivors.
No space in the gym, so the church. No space in the church, so outside. Grief broadcast live for the town.
SBSNews</a> <a href="https://t.co/pWxULcjebs">pic.twitter.com/pWxULcjebs</a></p>— Nastasya Tay (NastasyaTay) August 27, 2016
I ask the priest how he understands this act of God. “As a human,” he says, “I have no answer.” #terremoto
SBSNews</a></p>— Nastasya Tay (NastasyaTay) August 27, 2016