Italy quake toll hits 250 as rescuers search flattened towns

By Steve Scherer and Gabriele Pileri AMATRICE, Italy (Reuters) - The death toll from a devastating earthquake in central Italy climbed to 250 on Thursday as rescue teams scoured mounds of rubble for a second day in towns and villages flattened by the natural disaster. "People like myself have lost everything, but at the same time the fact that we have survived means we have to move forward one minute at a time," said Alessandra Cioni, 45, who managed to crawl out of her crumpled house after the quake. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi promised to rebuild the shattered houses and said he would renew efforts to bolster Italy's flimsy defenses against earthquakes that regularly batter the country.