Italy Preparing for Funerals of Earthquake Victims, Death Toll Now Stands at 260

Italy has begun preparations for a mass state funeral for the victims of Monday’s 6.3-magnitude earthquake that devastated the central Abruzzo region of the country leaving at least 260 dead and more than 1,500 injured.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announced that the planned state funeral will be held on Friday and be conducted by the Bishop of L’Aquila, Giuseppe Molinari. L’Aquila was practically leveled by the quake that left nearly 28,000 homeless, many of whom are now at temporary camps set up by authorities.

Rescue crews continue to search for survivors buried under the collapsed buildings and homes but continued aftershocks have made it difficult. On Tuesday Italian officials said the rescue efforts would continue for 48 hours before the operation turned to a recovery and clean-up phase.

There have been several people rescued after being buried for more than 40 hours leaving hope that more will be found.

Berlusconi has already ordered troops to be deployed to the region to guard vacant homes as a means of preventing looting and he has already warned that anybody caught would face “severe punishment.”

Click here for more World News

About YourFINDit

YourFindit Community is a business, music and social networking community. YourFINDit provides members with a wealth of applications that enable them to create an in depth profile within YourFindit. Profiles include an About Me, Background and Lifestyle, Videos, Photo sharing, News, Music, Blogs, unique URL and networking with other members inside the YourFINDit community. YourFindit provides ADit to each member providing them the opportunity to have an exclusive profile (no outside advertising) displaying only banner ads they upload to their pages. Members can run their own ads or give or sell their ad space to advertisers at prices the member sets.

To create your profile sign up and within minutes you too can have your People profile running your ads and building your network with new members daily.

YourFindit is owned and operated by TransWorldNews, Inc. a news and press release distribution service.