Rome  - The death toll from the heavy earthquake which struck central Italy early Monday had gone beyond 150, far higher than the last previous accounts, the Ansa news agency reported.

The agency cited hospitals in the quake-struck region north-east of the capital Rome in reporting the figure, which was well up on the previous toll of at least 90 people killed.

The latest account also said that some 1,500 people had been injured and 70,000 people rendered homeless, also higher figures than reported earlier. (dpa)