Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his civil protection chief, Guido Bertolaso, held a press conference after reaching the central Italian city of L'Aquila, hit by a powerful earthquake as residents slept.
Berlusconi warned that more temblors were possible and said no one would be allowed to remain in damaged homes. He said many buildings in the city's historic center were at risk of collapse.
Bertolaso told reporters that "the victims are even more than 70."
The quake struck about 70 miles (110 kilometers) northeast of Rome at 3:32 a.m. local time (0132 GMT), officials said.
Source: http://www.examiner.com/a-1945690~Officials_say_70_dead__1_500_hurt_in_Italy_quake.html
