Aftershocks quash hopes of finding more quake survivors

Strong aftershocks have damaged two key access roads into quake-struck Amatrice, threatening to isolate the tiny Italian hilltop town as hopes fade that firefighters will find any more survivors from the earthquake that killed at least 278 people.

Some crumbled buildings in Amatrice cracked even further after the biggest aftershock struck yesterday at 6.28am local time. The US Geological Service said it had a magnitude of 4.7, while the Italian geophysics institute measured it at 4.8.

The shaking ground also damaged one key access bridge to Amatrice, forcing emergency crews to close it.