Entire world in solidarity with Abruzzo quake victims

The latest toll update: 179 dead, 34 missing, 1500 injured, 17 thousand homeless.

ROME (AsiaNews/Agencies) - UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon has expressed his pain over the loss of so many lives in the earthquake that has devastated central Italy and above all the province of L'Aquila. All day yesterday messages of condolence and solidarity poured in from around the world: Albania, Russia, European Union, Azerbaijan, Iran, Ukraine, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, Kuwait, Japan... In Turkey, US President Barack Obama and his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul offered their condolences.

A group of 150 Philippine immigrants live in L'Aquila. None of them were killed but unfortunately many have lost their homes. They too are being cared for by the Civil Protection.

Condolences were also sent to the AsiaNews offices from China, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia, the latter a nation all too familiar with seismic activity. According to scientists the magnitude of the quake in Abruzzo was equal to that of Jakarta May 2006, which caused the death of 5000 people in the province of Yogyakarta.

Meanwhile in Abruzzo rescuers are racing against time, digging with there bare hands to find any survivors still trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings. Last night a 24 year-old student was pulled alive from beneath the debris almost 24 hours after the quake struck.

The latest toll puts the dead at 179, with 40 still unidentified. There are still 34 people unaccounted for and circa 1500 injured. The number of homeless stands at 17 thousand.

President of the Conference of Italian Bishops, card. Angelo Bagnasco, has issued a message of solidarity with the victims: "Saddened by the catastrophe that has devastated L'Aquila and numerous other centres in Abruzzo, we want the population to know that we are closet o them in this time and we are also involved in this tragic event. While we gather in prayer for the victims, we hope that the network of parishes, religious institutions and lay associations contribute to help alleviate the difficult conditions that thousands of people now forced to live.

"We pray that the generosity of many will help ease the physical pain and moral suffering of those who saw their life's sacrifice destroyed in a second. Easter is near, the Easter of Our Lord's passion and resurrection, may it be a sign of hope for all and a source of charity".

Caritas Italy has also launched an emergency aid appeal for the quake victims. Other National Caritas have also offered their assistance.