Italian quake death toll reaches 228

L'AQUILA, Italy, April 7 (UPI) -- The death toll caused by a huge earthquake that struck L'Aquila in Italy's Abruzzo region reached 228 by Tuesday evening, officials said.

Times Online reported the latest death toll included at least one person killed when a 5.6-magnitude aftershock occurred. Smaller aftershocks throughout the day hampered rescuers' efforts to find more bodies.

Rescue personnel said the initial 6.2-magnitude earthquake Monday also injured 1,500 and left 17,000 homeless, the Italian news service ANSA reported.

While hope of finding survivors dimmed, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said efforts would continue for two more days "until it is certain that there is no one else alive," Times Online said.

About 100 people have been pulled alive from the rubble, including 98-year-old Maria D'Antuono of Tempera, near L'Aquila, who said she spent the 30 hours trapped beneath the rubble of her house crocheting.

D'Antuono drew cheers when pulled to safety, ANSA said.

The elderly woman, who was given some crackers before being taken to a hospital, asked for a comb to tidy herself up, the news agency said.

Berlusconi declared a state of emergency for the quake-affected area about 70 miles northeast of Rome.

Officials urged residents to not return home as aftershocks rumbled. Thousands of people have sought shelter in tents while others slept in cars, nearby inns or homes of relatives, CNN said.

Since the initial quake, nearly 300 aftershocks had been felt, the strongest recorded at 5.6 on the Richter scale, ANSA said.

ANSA also reported Berlusconi appeared to have changed his mind Tuesday and said Italy may accept assistance from the United States.