Death toll rises to at least 159<br /> More than 368 injured<br /> <br /> <br /> PM Renzi calls for national unity<br /> <br /><br /> The search for victims of an earthquake which struck central Italy in the early hours of Wednesday morning continued throughout the night.<br /><br /> Scores have been killed and hundreds more injured after the magnitude 6.2 quake struck a mountainous area 150km north-east of Rome, near Perugia.<br /><br /> Many people were buried alive in their sleep.<br /><br /> One hotel that collapsed in the badly hit town of Amatrice probably had about 70 guests, and only seven bodies had so far been recovered, according to the local mayor.<br /><br /> Volunteers and firefighters are racing to free those trapped under the mounds of rubble.<br /><br /> Scenes of the devastation caused by the earthquake in Italy: 15 photos https://t.co/utMxPRTo4M pic.twitter.com/yTnXxSiMmH— New York Times World (@nytimesworld) August 24, 2016<br /> <br /><br /> Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi called for national unity after visiting the stricken area.<br /><br /> “For the Italians it is a moment of showing the strongest emotions. We Italians are very good at arguing and being critical but when faced with pain, Italy shows its best side. I believe we must all be proud of our firefighters, the army officers and the civil protection agents.”<br /><br /> Since the initial quake there have been 250 aftershocks, some of them as strong as 5.5.<br /><br /> The army has been mobilised in the rescue effort and field hospitals set up where its too dangerous to treat patients indoors.<br /><br /> Most of the damage was in the Lazio, Marche and Umbria regions which are dotted with centuries-old buildings susceptible to earthquakes.<br /><br /> Italy sits on two fault lines, making it one of the most seismically active countries in Europe.<br /><br /> The last major earthquake to hit the country struck the central city of L’Aquila in 2009, killing more than 300 people.<br /><br /> Italy is an ancient and vulnerable place. It needs maintenance, respect and resources. https://t.co/FfY2GWHlkT pic.twitter.com/Yhcgd18DRh— NYT Opinion (@nytopinion) August 24, 2016<br />
