At least seven die as earthquake strikes Italy

ITALIAN parents screamed frantically last night as they listened to groans from their dying children buried under tons of concrete after an earthquake brought their nursery school crashing down.

The bodies of six children and a teacher, who had been having a Halloween party with about 50 other youngsters aged between three and six, were dragged out from under the rubble but many more were still buried.

Eight of 20 rescued children were suffering from critical injuries. Hours after the quake rocked central and southern Italy, rescue teams were clawing at the concrete in the search for survivors.