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Search Efforts Continue As Death Toll In Italy Quake Up To 250

AMATRICE, Italy (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Italy's civil protection service says the provisional death toll for the earthquake in central Italy has risen to 250 people.

Civil protection officials released the revised numbers at a briefing Thursday afternoon in Rome. It says the number of injured stands at 365.

Officials had previously revised down the death toll after one of the hard-hit areas adjusted its figures, but stressed that the number remains provisional and that the search continues.

Norcia, which is about 105 miles northwest of Rome, was the epicenter of Wednesday morning's 6.2 earthquake that leveled the towns of Amatrice, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto.

The vast majority of the victims, 195, are from Amatrice and Accumoli in the Lazio region closer to Rome, officials said.

PHOTOS: Deadly Quake Strikes Central Italy

As CBS News' Jonathan Vigliotti reported, emergency workers in Pescara del Tronto were going through mountains of debris Thursday evening, looking for signs of life.

Overnight, rescue teams pulled a victim out of the rubble. Video from the Italian Fire Service showed crews working around the clock to find survivors of the earthquake.

Rescuers would not say when the operation will move from saving lives to recovering bodies.

Hundreds of aftershocks hampered the rescue effort on Thursday.

A strong aftershock with a preliminary magnitude of 4.3 caused more damage to buildings in Amatrice, partially collapsing one building and sending up plumes of smoke and panic.

A strong tremor also caused a news camera to shake and sent debris falling from already-damaged buildings.

Rescue teams and volunteers using bulldozers and their bare hands have been searching through piles of debris where homes once stood.

There was applause and cheers of joy as rescue workers were finally able to free a 10-year-old girl who was still alive after being trapped for 17 hours.

But among the victims was an 18-month-old girl whose mother survived the deadly earthquake of 2009 in nearby L'Aquila and moved away from there after that terrible experience.

Amatrice is the birthplace of the famed spaghetti al'amatriciana -- bacon and tomato sauce. The city was full for this weekend's planned festival honoring its native dish.

A relief camp has been set up for all the residents who lost their homes. The mayor told Italian media the roads in and out of Amatrice are cut off, and half the town is gone, CBS2's Andrea Grymes reported.

A former teacher in Amatrice broke down in tears when she went back to see what was left of her school. She said she had been unable to locate some of her former students.

In the town of Accumoli, 11 people were killed. They were asleep in their homes when the earthquake hit, and many of their homes were completely leveled.

The sides were torn off other buildings, exposing a glimpse of the lives that have been shattered. Even homes that are still standing have been deemed too dangerous to return to.

And back in New York, there are thoughts and prayers to people half a world away.

"We felt horrible for our people," said deli owner David Greco. "Everyone's been feeling it because Italy is big, but small."

In the Bronx's Little Italy neighborhood, Italian news reports showed the earthquake destruction and climbing death toll. When word broke, many with relatives in the country got in touch to make sure they were OK.

Joyce Volterra's in-laws live in Rome.

"His mom is old. She's scared," she said. "They felt the tremor -- was so close to the surface of the Earth, they felt it in Rome."

John Calvelli, the executive director of the National Italian American Foundation, said Italy desperately needs help and support.

"In the short term, what we need to do is make sure number 1: Our thoughts and prayers are with the people impacted, but also that we're getting needed revenue and resources to the people there," he said. "Right now, it should in the form of cash donations to organizations working on the ground."

The Italian Consulate in New York is recommending that people donate to the Italian Red Cross. For more information, click here.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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