The Big Picture: Rescuers

This aerial photo provided by the Italian Police shows the debris of a collapsed building in an area near L'Aquila, central Italy, following a powerful earthquake.

Rescuers are picking through rubble in the walled medieval city and nearby towns and villages, some of which are said to have been virtually destroyed.

Tents are being put up in tennis courts and on football pitches to house some of the 30,000-40,000 homeless.

Photo: AP/Italian Police