Quake survivor found after 42 hours

Apr 8 2009

Strong aftershocks have sent a fresh wave of fear across earthquake-hit central Italy.

But they did not prevent rescue crews pulling a young woman alive from a collapsed building about 42 hours after the main quake had struck.

Eleonora Calesini, a 20-year-old student, was found alive in the ruins of a five-storey building in L'Aquila.

She reportedly had an arm injury but was in good condition otherwise.

The death toll from Italy's worst earthquake in three decades climbed to 235, with 15 still missing, civil protection officials said. The dead included four students trapped in the rubble of a dormitory of the University of L'Aquila.

Rescue crews gave up gingerly removing debris by hand and brought in huge pincers that pulled off parts of the dorm roof, balconies and walls, showering debris down.

"Unless there is a miracle, I've been told (by rescuers) that the 15 missing probably are dead," university rector Ferdinando Di Orio said.

A strong aftershock during Tuesday evening rained debris down on screaming residents and rescue crews, who ran from the site.

To shelter the homeless against another chilly night in the mountains, some 20 tent cities have sprouted in open spaces around L'Aquila and surrounding towns. Field kitchens, medical supplies and clowns with bubbles -- to entertain traumatised children -- have been brought in.

Officials estimated on Monday that 50,000 people had been left homeless by the quake. By Tuesday evening, that number was lowered to between 17,000 and 25,000, because many had moved in with friends or relatives.