Earthquake in Italy

[Jean]

I wanted to express my condoleances to our Italian friends for the casualties during last night earthquake

[DirkO]

Yes, I heard it in the news as well. My thoughts go out to all the suffering families. Some things you can't be prepared for.

[Brian]

This is the first I have heard of it, but my best wishes go out to all our Italian friends and members, and hope they will update us soon.

 

Brian

[Stephen]

A tutti gli miei amici italiani, prego tutto sono bene.

[John A Stuart]

I pray for the people of l'Aquila, especially for the children. John

[Lorenzo]

I live in Italy but quite far from there, I have read the news this morning. My best wishes too.

[Jean]

Unfortunately, last provisional evaluation is 50 victims; probably much more. It took place 100 km North East to Roma

[Ted Tenold]

I read about it this morning. Our thoughts and prayers to everyone there.

[loiner1965]

thoughts and prayers to all of those poor people

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Jean, all, I thank you for your concern in the name of italian people.

 

I too live away from the center of that earthquake, but they are quiet common all around Italy (but the northern alluvial plain I live in).

 

The toll of dead is even more harsh if we think that just a few days before a scientist gave a strong warning producing alarm in population. He got a legal action and laugh from istitutions.

 

He said this on April 1st but evidently he was serious. And right...

[nagamaki - Franco]

hi, am worried about relatives living in this region, but it's understandably impossible to get through via telephone right now. Let's hope for the best in this unfortunate tragedy. It was very odd timing that I received a concert brochure via email from L'Aquila at 3:51 AM EST just this morning.

[Brian]

Franco,

Our thoughts go out to your relatives at this time. Please do keep us updated, and I trust that everyone will be safe and sound.

 

Brian

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Franco, if i can be of any help, don't hesitate to contact me via e-mail.

[nagamaki - Franco]

goodevening, thank you for your concerns. Am relieved to let you know that I finally got through to relatives, and they're all fine. Unfortunately, for many living in these areas there is much misery tonight.

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Yes, very sad to watch TV...

[Eric H]

My family is shocked due to this sad incident. At this time official announcement says 179 dead, 100 people missed in the wreckage and up to 70'000 people homeless. Very very sad.

 

Eric

[Bugyotsuji]

As you all know, Japan is constantly shaking from earthquakes (see the last couple of weeks for an average example)

http://typhoon.yahoo.co.jp/weather/jp/earthquake/

 

but even so, this Italian earthquake was large by any standards and hit where there are many old and heavy buildings. My feelings go out to the families...

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

and hit where there are many old and heavy buildings.

 

This is the real problem here. Japan has many (if not most) of the country built in a safe way (as much as the word "safe"

can be used for such events).

On the contrary, in Italy to find an inhabited house that was built 300 years ago is very common in the smaller cities

and towns and in historical centers.

Also most of the "new" buildings were built in an hurry either after WWII or during the economic boom periods.

Hence hospitals and schools of the '80s crumbled while many houses of the '500 are still standing.

A law to increase the safety of buildings in the afflicted area has been delayed 3 times in the last 10 years.

Many of the people would have been killed anyway, but if only 20% could have been saved with imrpovements

would have meant 44 human beings still with us, at the current account of casualties (228 + 11 missing).