Vatican's firemen helping in Italy’s earthquake disaster

(April, 08,2009): Pope Benedict XVI is sending aid to the earthquake victims of central Italy in the form of Vatican firemen, while Caritas workers move forward to assist the affected towns. Eight rescue workers, sent by the Holy See with the express permission of the Pope, have been collaborating since Monday to help victims of the earthquake in the Abruzzo region, the corps' Commander Domenico Giani told Vatican Radio.
The earthquake, measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale, struck close to the city of L'Aquila, around 70 miles northeast of Rome. According to official reports, the quake claimed over 200 victims and injured some 1,000 people.
Commander Gianni said “During the night, no sooner the tragedy was known, I spoke with our superiors, with Bishop Renato Boccardo and Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, secretary and president respectively of the Governor's Office for Vatican City State. Then we informed the Holy Father, the Secretary of State and the whole Secretariat. It seemed to us obligatory, at this time of great sorrow, that a team of our firemen should be present to give a hand.” He explained that the Vatican security forces are also prepared in this area of security and civil protection.
The Vatican sent a structural engineer to the area, and an eight-member team, with resources for civil protection and aid for the population. The team is working in collaboration with the Italian emergency services in one of the most affected areas, the village of Onna, where 41 of the 250 inhabitants perished.