Aftershocks Hit Rescue Ops in Italian City of L’Aquila

Rescuers involved in evacuation work in the historic city of L’Aquila suffered a huge setback on Tuesday as a 4.9 magnitude aftershock ripped through the region barely 24 hours after the Italian city was ravaged by the worst seismic devastation to hit the country in over three decades.

The tremors hit rescue operations at the local university where aid workers have worked frantically to evacuate students trapped under the rubble from a collapsed dormitory.

Rescuers say four students could still be inside the building, officials said. Emergency workers were hunting for as many as 30 people pinned under rubble in other parts of the city.

A series of aftershocks have hit the region since the 6.3 quake early Monday left over 207 dead, 1,500 inured and thousands homeless.

Two buildings in a L’Aquila suburb, collapsed following the aftershock, reported ANSA, attributing the inputs to local fire officials. It added that no one was believed to be inside either of the buildings.

Emergency workers are said to be back at work and are reported to have pulled some 100 people live from the rubble.

With the rescue effort focusing around pregnant women, children and the elderly, many in the city are sleeping in cars parked in grounds and open fields or have moved to live with relatives in other parts of the region.