Rivers of mud unleashed by heavy rains overnight flooded parts of the Sicilian city of Messina, killing at least 20 people, sweeping away cars and collapsing buildings.

School reopened in a blue tent city today in a symbolic return to normality for some of the youngest victims of Italy’s earthquake.

A powerful earthquake ripped through central Italy today killing more than 90 people as they slept.

A powerful earthquake struck central Italy this morning, killing at least 20 people, collapsing buildings and leaving thousands of people homeless, officials and news reports said.

Volcanic ash from Mount Etna fell on Catania in Sicily today, forcing authorities to close the airport overnight, airport officials said.

FIVE people died and two others were reported missing as flash floods hit southern Italy, sweeping away bridges, cutting roads and derailing a high-speed train, officials said.

POPE Benedict XVI held his first working meeting with the College of Cardinals yesterday as authorities began gearing up for the influx of dignitaries and 500,000 faithful expected for the Pope’s inauguration tomorrow.

CARDINALS yesterday called a conclave starting in 12 days’ time to elect a successor to Pope John Paul II.

A sea of humanity filled the streets of the tiny Vatican state last night to pay their last respects to Pope John Paul II.

SCANDINAVIAN countries are preparing themselves for national tragedies as the realisation dawns that most of the Europeans missing after the south Asian tsunami are from Sweden and Norway.

A massive power blackout which crippled Italy and left most of its 57 million people without electricity for hours was today blamed ... on a tree.

A massive blackout hit Italy today, cutting power to millions of Italians who woke up to find their phone lines silent and their televisions black.

Authorities in Italy working through seismic aftershocks today made final preparations for a mass funeral for 29 victims of Thursday's earthquake.

Prosecutors arrived in abandoned San Giuliano di Puglia today to start an investigation into whether anyone was to blame for the deaths of 26 children buried under their school in an earthquake.