By KUNA,
ROME : Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has declared a state of emergency in the country after a strong quake hit central Italy early Monday, leaving at least 27 people dead and over 45,000 homeless.
Speaking to Sky News 24 satellite channel by phone, Berlusconi said he had declared a state of emergency following the strong earthquake in Abruzzo in central Italy.
Firefighters, volunteers, and military personnel are racing against time to search for survivors in collapsed buildings in the quake-hit areas.
Berlusconi has also cancelled a scheduled visit to Russia in order to inspect the quake-hit areas.
Berlusconi was scheduled to fly to Moscow on Monday, leading an Italian business and industrial delegation.
Rome’s civil protection officials said scores of people were injured in the earthquake as thousands of buildings were affected.
Italy’s geophysics authorities put the magnitude of the earthquake at 6.3 on the Richter scale.
The temblor has caused panic among residents in L’Aguila and many of them fled their houses. The quake was felt in Rome and much of the country. It came just hours after a 4.6-magnitude tremor hit north-central Italy Sunday night, which left no damage or injuries.(pick up previous) mn.mt KUNA 061304 Apr 09NNNN