An explosion levelled a two-story apartment building in the southern Italian city of Foggia this morning, killing at least seven people and injuring another six, authorities said.

Groans from dying Italian children could be heard tonight from beneath tons of concrete after an earthquake brought their nursery school crashing down on top of them.

At least four children were reported to have been killed in southern Italy today when an earthquake brought their nursery school roof down on top of them.