250 dead, thousands displaced in central Italy's quake

A rescuer works following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy August 24, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

The death toll also needed to be constantly updated, since many remained unaccounted for.

The affected area was a popular destination for holidaymakers, and the population swelled in summer, making it harder to exactly estimate how many people were present at the time of the quake.

Meanwhile, several tent cities were set up around Accumoli, Arquata and Pescara del Tronto. In Amatrice, displaced families spent last night in the town's main sport facility.

Overall, some 3,400 places were made available since Wednesday, and about 1,200 people were accommodated there, according to Italian civil protection emergency chief Titti Postiglione.

Many families preferred to spend the first night after the quake in their cars.

As time goes by, the chance to find someone still alive under the rubbles would grow weaker. Furthermore, over 600 aftershocks have been registered since Wednesday, and some of them intense, making search activities more risky.

A 4.3-magnitude quake was indeed registered in Rieti province at 2:36 p.m. local time (1236 GMT) on Thursday, according to the National Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (INGV).

It made some damaged buildings in Amatrice tremble dangerously, and more ruins collapsed where rescuers were at work.

Overall, nine quakes of magnitude between 4.0 and 5.0, and one exceeding magnitude 5.0 have occurred till Thursday mid-afternoon, the INGV stated.

After the emergency meeting, Renzi noted the country's need to improve its seismic safety.

Criticism have rose among people and media analysts for the lack of sufficient buildings safety standards in the affected areas, all of them known for centuries for being at high seismic risk.

Renzi stressed that a serious long-term plan of reconstruction was needed.

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