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.