Italy declares state of emergency in quake-affected areas

 

 

ROME: -- Rescue teams work tirelessly scouring the rubble to find survivors in Italy.

 

The death toll from the earthquake has climbed to 250, with Amatrice the worst hit.

 

With every hour that passes, hopes fade for finding survivors. The head of the Civil Protection Department fears the death toll might eclipse that in L’Aquila which killed more than 300 people in 2009.

 

Thousands have been left homeless, some chose to spend another night in their cars, others in tents.

 

State of emergency

 

The government has declared a state of emergency and will release 50 million euros in emergency aid to the affected regions of Lazio, Marche and Umbria.

 

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi also announced a plan to boost the country’s earthquake defences and made an emotional statement in a news conference.

 

“The first words that come to the minds of all of us are “emotions”, “deep emotions” “painful emotions” because of what happened, because of the victims. When fate divides families, it’s always difficult to accept… And us, we’re humans first, then politicians.”

 

International response

 

The EU is assisting Italy in its emergency response. Italian authorities requested assistance including satellite mapping of the disaster-hit regions from the Copernicus Emergency Management Services.

 

Italian chefs all over the world have made the signature dish of Amatrice, a pasta recipe known as L’Amatriciana, into a way of raising funds. The idea being to donate a certain amount from the sale of the dish to those affected by the earthquake. You can follow the trend on Twitter under #eatforItaly.

 

World capitals also showed solidarity, lighting up monuments in the colours of the Italian flag.

 

-- © Copyright Euronews 2016-08-26

 

Refugees donate for the victims.
The 75 migrants, refugees and asylum seekers housed in a housing center in Calabria, southern Italy, decided to do something to help the victims of the earthquake that devastated the center of Italy, reported Corriere della sera and Vita.
A modest but symbolic gesture, each of them has agreed to donate 2.50 euros. This corresponds to their "pocket money", the small amount of money allocated to them each day for personal expenses

Italian restaurants were invited to make donations for each pasta dish served with sauce "amatriciana," the name of the village affected by the disaster. This initiative comes from  food blogger, Paolo Campana,  who launched an appeal for donations on Facebook, says the Guardian. The goal is to help the victims of the targeted area by the strong earthquake of magnitude 6.2.

...horror...

 

Bikers give a hand to quickly bring medicine, food, or just news to all the people in remote areas.Isolated hamlets people need everything. But the "angels on wheels" that crisscross the mountain roads always find a way to get there.

 

read more : http://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-quake-volunteers-idUSKCN1101H6

Edited August 27, 20169 yr by Opl