Italy quake death toll rises

The death toll from the earthquake that hit central Italy on Monday has risen to 260, and 28,000 are reported to have lost their homes.Silvio Berlusconi, the prime minister, said the death toll from the quake included 16 children.Mass state funerals are expected to take place in the city on Friday, Berlusconi added.Rescuers found 15 more bodies in the debris of the medieval mountain city of L'Aquila overnight on Tuesday, and were able to save two women who had survived for up to 42 hours.Berlusconi said the search for people still missing in the rubble would continue for another 48 hours, but the focus of the operation was shifting to looking after those who had survived.