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The Italian Prime Minister says the death toll in the quake-hit areas in and around the town of L'Aguila has climbed to 260, including 16 children.

Silvio Berlusconi made the announcement after visiting the hardest-hit areas for the third day in a row.

Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi shows a map of the earthquake zone during a news conference in L 'Aquila, central Italy, Wednesday , April 8, 2009.[Luca Bruno/CCTV/AP Photo]

Tens of thousands of people have been left homeless by Italy's worst earthquake in 30 years. Andrew Dupuis has more.

The Prime Minister has visited the disaster area every day, surveying the damage in a helicopter and reviewing rescue operations on the ground.

Berlusconi is trying to infuse people with optimism.

Silvio Berlusconi, Italian Prime Minister, said, "I think that children need to be pushed to smile, towards optimism and games. We have doctors who use humor therapy. I think this is what has to be done in order to avoid a pessimistic atmosphere, negativity, sickness and death in these camps."

The prime minister has also invited some of the homeless to Italy's eastern coast. Free hotels there are being readied to accommodate survivors.

At least ten thousand buildings have been either damaged or destroyed. On Wednesday, teams planned to begin surveying the buildings still standing to see if residents could move back in.

Specialists are using photographs along with computer imaging to check whether each building is safe to be inhabited or needs to be demolished.

Berlusconi has announced an initiative in which countries offering financial support would be able to fund the reconstruction of historic buildings damaged in the quake.

Authorities say since the earthquake there has been some 430 aftershocks.

A mass state funeral for victims and a national day of mourning is expected to be held on Friday.

(CCTV April 9, 2009)