Canadian among victims killed in Italy earthquake
A Canadian citizen was among the 250 people who were killed when an earthquake struck a mountainous stretch of Italy Wednesday, Global Affairs Canada said.
“I was extremely saddened to see the tragic loss of life following the devastating earthquake in central Italy, which now includes the death of a Canadian citizen,” Foreign Minister Stéphane Dion said in a statement Thursday.
The foreign affairs department did not release the name of the victim, citing privacy concerns.
The 6.2-magnitude quake struck at 3:36 a.m. Wednesday, injuring at least 365 people and reducing four historic towns in the Appenine Mountains of central Italy to rubble. It was the deadliest earthquake to hit the country since 2009, when a quake shattered L’Aquila — less than 100 kilometres from this week’s devastation — killing more than 300 people.
Officials say 72 Canadians were registered as being in the area when the earthquake struck, though they did not say whether any are missing. One Canadian was reported injured.
Bob Sacco, president of the National Federation of Canadian Italian Business and Professional Associations, said that even though it’s still early, his organization is looking at ways to support recovery efforts.
“I got a lot of calls from our chapters in Montreal and various chapters across Canada that basically said, ‘How can we help?’ The first step is really to figure out who the right people are to have an idea and do an effective plan,” he said.
The four towns and villages hit hardest were Amatrice, Pescara del Tronto, Arquata del Tronto and Accumoli. All have medieval roots with centuries-old buildings.
Aurora resident Anthony Pullano, a past board member of the Canadian Italian Businessman’s Association and the Italian Chamber of Commerce, noted the clock tower in Amatrice remained standing, “in defiance of tragedy, like a beacon of hope for all Italy.”
The Italian consulate in Toronto has posted an information line for people looking to reach loved ones.
It also posted a link to the Italian Red Cross, which is accepting donations online and via wire transfers.