The economic cost of a strong earthquake that recently hit central Italy would amount to at least 4 billion euros (4.48 billion U.S. dollars), Italian authorities said on Friday.

"The overall damage is estimated at about 4 billion euros, which is a very prudent figure," Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi told a press conference in the Italian capital.

"The earthquake has not only affected the communities where victims were claimed: a larger area has been profoundly wounded," he added.

Some 297 people were killed, and 400 injured, in the 6.0-magnitude quake that struck the central Lazio and Marche regions on Aug. 24.

Thousands more have lost their houses and activities in the disaster.

Around 3,000 displaced people were registered one month after the disaster, some 2,500 of whom still sheltered in tent camps, according to the Italian Civil Protection Agency.

"Our major priority now is to close the tent camps as soon as possible," agency chief Fabrizio Curcio said, adding "In other similar emergencies, displaced people have been able to live in tents up to five months."

"Yet, the current situation, the geographic position (of the affected areas), and the period of the year we are facing do not allow us to wait for such a long time," the officer explained.

A significant reduction in the number of people living in temporary shelters was expected in the upcoming weekend, according to the civil protection chief.

Authorities also said the emergency phase during the first month after the quake has been particularly difficult, but so far satisfying.

"It has been a complicated but well-coordinated path, and we want to thank local administrators for this," Renzi said.

"Mayors and regional authorities have been on the forefront, of course, and they have showed a sense of unity and institutional cooperation that should always characterize our country."

Renzi also restated the cabinet's determination to rebuild destroyed villages and towns "as they were, and where they were, possibly more beautiful than before."

According to some Italian experts, such reconstruction plan would be longer and more complicated than rebuilding completely new areas. The major quake in fact hit some predominantly mountainous areas, with most villages and towns of medieval origins.

Yet, restoring the urban centers to their original status was the will expressed by a vast majority of the affected communities.

Meanwhile, some 15 million euros were so far gathered through private donations via SMS, according to special commissioner for post-quake reconstruction Vasco Errani.

"An open data system will be set up to guarantee transparency in the management of the solidarity funds," Errani told the press conference.

Reconstruction efforts would comply with most-strict anti-seismic standards.

"We will upgrade and secure buildings in order for them to be able to withstand a 6.0-magnitude quake," the commissioner said.

In late August, Renzi asked renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano to help with reconstruction efforts in central Italy, in the framework of a larger national quake and risk prevention plan.

Source : XINHUA