Italy Earthquake Casualties

An Italian priest has said the recent earthquakes that have shaken the country, killing hundreds and leaving tens of thousands homeless, were "divine punishment" for gay civil unions, earning the Vatican's wrath.

A powerful earthquake brought down numerous buildings across central Italy on Sunday and emergency services were checking to see if there were any casualties, civil protection authorities said.

Pope Francis said Sunday he wanted to visit the quake-hit villages of central Italy, as survivors and rescue workers dug in for the long haul with colder weather approaching.

Hopes of finding more survivors from Italy's powerful earthquake faded on Friday, with the death toll rising to 281 and the rescue operation in some of the stricken areas called off.

The death toll from a devastating earthquake in central Italy reached at least 241 people today and could rise further after rescue teams worked through the night to try to find survivors under the rubble of flattened towns.

The number of dead in the powerful earthquake in central Italy climbed to at least 247 today, the country's civil protection agency said.

There has been no Indian casualty in the magnitude 6.2 earthquake that rocked Italy on Wednesday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said citing the Indian embassy in Rome.

At least 18 people have died after a powerful earthquake struck central Italy in the early hours of Wednesday, according to local officials.

An Italian priest has said the recent earthquakes that have shaken the country, killing hundreds and leaving tens of thousands homeless, were "divine punishment" for gay civil unions, earning the Vatican's wrath.

A powerful earthquake brought down numerous buildings across central Italy on Sunday and emergency services were checking to see if there were any casualties, civil protection authorities said.

Pope Francis said Sunday he wanted to visit the quake-hit villages of central Italy, as survivors and rescue workers dug in for the long haul with colder weather approaching.

Hopes of finding more survivors from Italy's powerful earthquake faded on Friday, with the death toll rising to 281 and the rescue operation in some of the stricken areas called off.

The death toll from a devastating earthquake in central Italy reached at least 241 people today and could rise further after rescue teams worked through the night to try to find survivors under the rubble of flattened towns.

The number of dead in the powerful earthquake in central Italy climbed to at least 247 today, the country's civil protection agency said.

There has been no Indian casualty in the magnitude 6.2 earthquake that rocked Italy on Wednesday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said citing the Indian embassy in Rome.

At least 18 people have died after a powerful earthquake struck central Italy in the early hours of Wednesday, according to local officials.