AMATRICE, ITALY - The death toll in the Italian earthquake is nearing 250 as rescuers continue efforts to find survivors.

Dozens of people are believed trapped in ruined Amatrice, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto, in mountainous central Italy.

There have been hundreds of aftershocks since the quake struck, hampering relief efforts and damaging already unstable buildings.
More than 4,300 rescuers are using heavy machinery and their bare hands.

Rescuers have advised journalists and bystanders to leave Amatrice urgently, as "the town is crumbling", the BBC's Jenny Hill says.

Another powerful aftershock struck the town on Thursday afternoon, sending a huge dust cloud into the air.

Many of the earthquake's victims were children, the health minister said, and there were warnings the toll could rise further.

The M6.2-magnitude quake hit on Wednesday 65 miles north-east of Rome.

"We are sleeping in the car and there were shocks all night. When the biggest one came, the car started moving and shaking," said Monica, a survivor from Amatrice.

Story Date: August 26, 2016