Earthquake disaster ‘was like Dante’s Inferno’ as death toll continues to rise

The death toll from the earthquake that hit central Italy has risen to 247, Italy's civil protection agency announced last night.

Prime minister Matteo Renzi spoke in the provincial capital of Rieti after visiting rescue crews and survivors in the hard-hit town of Amatrice.

He also flew over other demolished towns in the nearby Le Marche region.