Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has pledged quicker relief for earthquake victims, even if it comes at the cost of defying European Union rules that seek to curtail governments' deficit spending.
Renzi spoke as tens of thousands of people in central Italy were facing evacuation or sleeping in tents, emergency shelters, cars and even trains following a powerful earthquake on Sunday that has been followed by repeated aftershocks.
"If we gave the idea that we cannot rebuild because of European (budget discipline) constraints, it would mean that we have all lost our minds," Renzi said after an emergency cabinet meeting in Rome.
"Whatever is needed for the earthquake, we will put it on the table, full stop," he added.
Tensions between Italy and the European Commission have risen over Rome's request to overshoot its deficit targets to make room for spending on the earthquake and a major inflow of migrants.
A 6.5-magnitude earthquake - the strongest in Italy since 1980 - struck the Umbrian town of Norcia and nearby villages early on Sunday. It was the third quake in a week's time after two above-5-magnitude temblors struck on Wednesday and Thursday.
No deaths have been reported, but residents' nerves were tested after enduring a 6-magnitude earthquake in August. That disaster caused 298 deaths in Amatrice, Accumoli and Arquata del Tronto, about about 55 kilometres south-west of Norcia.
"Sleep? Everything is shaking here. How are you going to sleep?" asked Marco Rinaldi, mayor of the stricken village of Ussita.
"The truth is, the nightmare is not yet over," Rinaldi said. "It's the fear that's pushing us to the edge."
Italy's Civil Protection Department said 15,000 people took advantage of emergency shelters Sunday night but that the number of people rendered homeless by the Sunday earthquake was likely much higher.
