Italy Prosecutor: Shoddy Renovations May Have Led To Quake Deaths

The prosecutor investigating the aftermath of the Italy earthquake says shoddy cut-price renovations in breach of local building regulations could be partly to blame for the high death toll.

Three medieval towns were flattened by a 6.2-magnitude quake on Wednesday, killing 291 including three Britons.

Now Giuseppe Saieva has warned that property owners who commissioned sub-standard work could be held responsible for contributing to the quake's deadly impact.

He told La Repubblica: "If the buildings had been constructed as they are in Japan they wouldn't have collapsed."

In Amatrice, a small mountain town hit hardest by the quake, the collapsed partition walls of a three-storey villa caught his eye.

He told reporters: "I can only think it was built on the cheap with more sand than cement."

He warned: "If it emerges that individuals cut corners, they will be pursued and those that have made mistakes will pay a price."

Pope Francis has said he plans to visit the area affected soon, to bring the people there the "comfort of faith".

Italy's state museums are donating Sunday's proceeds to the relief and reconstruction efforts.

The nation's rich artistic heritage is being harnessed to help restore some of the notable buildings in the areas affected.

Culture Minster Dario Franceschini urged Italians to "go to a museum in a sign of solidarity with people affected by the earthquake".

It is one of several efforts that have sprung up to help the towns rebuild.

A state funeral took place on Saturday for some of the victims of the quake.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and President Sergio Mattarella were at the service for 35 people from the tiny hillside villages of Arquata and Pescara del Tronto.

Several funerals were held on Friday and a common funeral service for the dead in the hard-hit towns of Amatrice and nearby Accumoli will take place next Wednesday.