Rome - The death toll from an earthquake that struck central Italy in the pre-dawn hours of Monday has risen to 179, reported the coordinating centre for rescue services from the battered town of L'Aquila.

Of the dead, 40 bodies still need to be identified. An additional 34 people are still missing more than 24 hours after the earthquake, which registered between 5.8 and 6.2 on the Richter scale.

The earthquake, which struck about 100 kilometres north-east of Rome, has left an additional 1,500 injured and tens of thousands homeless. Rescue operations continue to be hampered by ongoing aftershocks, one of which reached a magnitude of 3.6. (dpa)