No Filipino is reported to be among the 38 people who have died in 6.2 magnitude Italy quake.
Italy quake update – The Department of Foreign Affairs announced that there is no Filipino among the casualties in the 6.2 magnitude tremor that rocked central Italy on Wednesday.
“So far we have not received report of any Filipinos affected by the earthquake in Italy. Our Embassy in Rome continues to monitor the situation of Filipinos there,” Foreign Affairs spokesperson Charles Jose said in a text message to GMA News.
According to the DFA, there are about 170,000 Filipinos currently residing and working in Italy. According to Italian Ministry records, there are some 150 Filipinos in L’Aquila where the quake hit had.
The embassy is coordinating with the Interior Ministry and local authorities in assisting community members.
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said President Arroyo would “extend help and do what needs to be done to help.”
As of press time, at least 38 persons are believed to have not survived in the quake.
The quake which struck in the early hours of Wednesday instilled fear into the residents of the villages of Amatrice, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto.
Many remained unaccounted for as emergency services scrambled to find victims trapped under collapsed buildings in L’Aquila, which bore the brunt of the quake, and officials warned that the toll would rise.
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi declared a state of emergency and cancelled a trip to Russia so he could go to L’Aquila, capital of Abruzzo region, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) northeast of Rome.
The quake struck just after 3:30 a.m. (0130 GMT) and lasted about 30 seconds, bringing down many of the town’s Renaissance and Baroque buildings.
Roofs caved in on sleeping inhabitants and boulders fell off mountain slopes, blocking many roads. At least five children were among the dead in L’Aquila, according to police quoted by ANSA news agency.
The quake measured magnitude 5.8, according to the Italian geophysical institute, while the US Geological Survey said it was 6.3.
The epicenter was just outside L’Aquila and heavy damage was inflicted up to 30 kilometers (20 miles) away in all directions, emergency services told AFP.
Sirens blared across L’Aquila as rescue workers with dogs raced to find people in the rubble.
Thousands of the 60,000 residents fled into the streets as more than a dozen aftershocks rattled the town.