GRIEVING relatives of Italy's earthquake victims said goodbye to their loved ones in heartbreaking scenes at a mass state funeral today.

A service for 37 of the 292 known victims was held in the town in Amatrice.

More than 242 of those killed in last Wednesday's tremor hailed from the tiny town and the nearby village of Accumoli.

Rieti Bishop Domenico Pompili fired a cryptic shot at authorities in his sermon.

He said: "Earthquakes don't kill. What kills the most is the work of man."

The massed crowd – seated in a giant tent amidst the ruins of the town – burst into applause as the names of the dead were read out.

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Last embrace

'sorry we didn't make it in time'

The families of many killed chose to have private funerals, but 37 were honoured in the tragic service this afternoon.

Fire crews and policemen acted as casket bearers as the coffins were carried to the front of the service.

Builders had worked through the night to prepare the site when families threatened to boycott the service if it was held in nearby Rieti.

Scores of bouquets were spaced on and around the caskets by tearful mourners.

Romanian prime minister Dacian Ciolos attended after 11 of his country's citizens were killed in the quake.

Local priest Don Sante Bertarelli urged authorities to support the shattered community in an area only last year voted one of Italy's most beautiful.

He implored: “There are families which have been destroyed. We must give them hope."

Up to ten victims are believed to remain buried beneath the rubble.

The devastating earthquake hit in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Many of the mountainous area's centuries-old homes were demolished while their owners slept.

Among the victims were Brit schoolboy Marcos Burnett, 14, and his parents' friends Maria and Will Henniker-Gotley.