Central Italy Quake Death Toll Climbs to 45, Unofficial Count as High as 63

Updated figures show at least 45 people have died in an earthquake that struck central Italy early Wednesday, with unofficial accounts saying the toll may be as high as 63.

ROME (Sputnik) – The 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck Italy's central regions at around 3:36 a.m. local time (01:36 GMT), resulting in serious damage and triggering scores of aftershocks as strong as 5.5 in magnitude.

At least 17 bodies have been delivered to the Ascoli Piceno province morgue, 10 people died in the Marche administrative region, and 28 more in the hardest-struck towns of Accumoli and Amatrice, according to Civil Protection service spokeswoman Immacolata Postiglione.

With more residents unaccounted for, the Sky TG24 broadcaster said the total unofficial count is 63 dead.