Italian Red Cross Responds to Earthquake in L'Aquila

The American Red Cross will continue to monitor the situation and communicate with our sister society, the Italian Red Cross, and the International Federation, and stands ready to provide further assistance if requested. The Italian Red Cross has not yet asked for international assistance.

At 3:30 a.m. a powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the city of L'Aquila in central Italy, 75 miles northeast of Rome. It’s the worst earthquake to hit this region in nearly 30 years.

According to recent reports at least 90 people have been killed and 400 injured. The numbers of dead and injured are expected to grow as search and rescue efforts continue. Tens of thousands of people have become homeless in the city which has a population of 70,000.

Italian Red Cross rescue teams were on the scene of the disaster within an hour after the earthquake struck, searching for people trapped in the rubble and providing emergency care for the injured.

The Italian Red Cross has established a field hospital to relieve the burden on local health facilities which are under an enormous strain due to the sudden upsurge in demand. Also, the Italian Red Cross has set up mobile kitchens with the capacity to provide 10,000 meals a day run by a team of 16 Italian Red Cross staff and 30 volunteers. Two soup kitchens providing up to 400 meals a day have been mobilized to respond to the needs of L’Aquila Hospital, whose patients are being evacuated to other cities.

Thirty-six ambulances from the Italian Red Cross are on rotation to evacuate injured people from L'Aquila to hospitals in Tagliacozzo, Pescina and Avezzano. They are also providing care for children evacuated from an orphanage in San Gregorio. Additionally, five psychological support teams from the Italian Red Cross are now on the ground to help deal with the emotional needs of survivors.

Additional resources, including 30 search and rescue dog units, five other psychological support teams and three veterinary teams, are on standby depending on the needs.

With up to 10,000 buildings in the city believed to be badly damaged or destroyed, the Italian Red Cross foresees growing problems with shelter, warm clothes and food provisions for the survivors.

“Once we have addressed the need to reinforce emergency health care in the region, the next major challenge, apart from urgent search and rescue, is to find a solution for the thousands of homeless survivors,” says Tommasso Della Longa, Head of Communication for the Italian Red Cross.

Working in close coordination with the Italian Civil Protection, the Italian Red Cross has activated its national operations center, as well as four regional offices, to respond effectively to the growing needs of survivors.

In consultation with the Italian Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is currently assessing which assistance can be best provided right now to supplement and support the efforts of the Italian Red Cross.

Since 1968 the International Federation and member National Societies have supported the Italian Red Cross three times after earthquakes in 1968, 1976 and in 1980. In 1980 some 3,000 people lost their lives after a deadly quake hit the region of Naples. In 1992 a quake in Umbria claimed 13 lives and countless cultural treasures. The most recent deadly quake was in 2002 when 30 people died, including 27 pupils and their teacher, in the southern Italian town of San Giuliano di Puglia.

An Italian police officer walks through the rubble after an earthquake in the Italian village of Onna April 6, 2009. A powerful earthquake struck a huge swath of central Italy as residents slept on Monday morning, killing at least 90 people when thousands of houses, churches and other buildings collapsed or were damaged. Chris Helgren/Reuters/courtesy www.alertnet.org

A couple embrace near the ruins of their house after an earthquake in the Italian village of Onna April 6, 2009. Chris Helgren/Reuters/courtesy www.alertnet.org

An injured walks past his destroyed house after an earthquake in the Italian village of Onna April 6, 2009. The powerful earthquake has displaced tens of thousands making up to 50,000 homeless. Chris Helgren/Reuters/courtesy www.alertnet.org

You can help the victims of countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster, please do so at the time of your donation by mailing your donation with the designation to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243 , Washington, D.C. 20013 or to your local American Red Cross chapter. Donations to the International Response Fund can be made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org.