Dozens die in Italian earthquake

[Next of Kin]

The last time I paid a visit to L'aquila was less than 10 years ago. Considering that my family has relatives less than an hour away from the quake's epicentre we were sure to give them a call and see if all was right. Thank goodness nothing bad happened!

I'm surprised that more of the city wasn't leveled. From what I remember, the many of the buildings were very old.

[Narkis]

This story has seen heavy coverage around here. There were a couple hundred Greek college students in the city, apparently. Three were injured, one was recovered dead from the wreckage in front of his mother, and the rest were hastily brought back home by our government. One mother chewed the relevant vice minister during the press conference in the airport after the first planes arrived for not giving the students anything to eat or drink during the many-hour trip, "not even a chocolate". Giggling ensued.

Reports are that the Italian response was ridiculously disorganised. More than one reporter on the scene said that if this'd happened here, we'd be calling for the government's blood. And they've declined our offers of help, for some unknowable reason.

No one's taking that seismologist seriously too. After every earthquake, and we tend to have one every few months, there's a nut claiming that he'd predicted the earthquake but the establishment shut him up so that the people wouldn't panic. They all fail to accurately predict a second one. And there's always a nut claiming that this or that region will have an earthquake in the next few months. One of them is bound to get lucky.

This just in: Berlusconi says earthquake victims should view experience as camping weekend. What's this guy smoking?

By the way, just how is L'aquila pronounced? Everyone pronounces it differently in the news, and I'm curious.

[Melchior]

By the way, just how is L'aquila pronounced? Everyone pronounces it differently in the news, and I'm curious.

L'à-qui-la.

[Gil Hamilton]

Make sure to pronounce the L and A together. My old Italian teacher who was from the Abruzzi region pronounced it LA-quee-la, emphasis on the first syllable and said as a whole world.

[FSTargetDrone]

The US Government donates $50,000:

US gives 50,000 dlrs for quake-hit Italy

Apr 6 12:39 PM US/Eastern

The United States said Monday it would donate 50,000 dollars in emergency aid to Italy after a powerful earthquake killed at least 100 people.

"We send our heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed in the earthquake. Our embassy in Rome will provide 50,000 (dollars) in emergency relief funding," State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters.

Italian authorities told the United States they did not need rescue teams, Wood said.

President Barack Obama earlier offered his condolences on a visit to Turkey and voiced hope that the United States could send rescuers.

The earthquake killed at least 100 people and injured 1,500 more as it reduced medieval buildings to rubble in the central town of L'Aquila.

Wood said there were no reports of US citizens among the dead or injured but that the US embassy in Rome was reaching out to Americans living in the region.

And Madonna donates $500,000:

Madonna donates to quake-hit town

Posted 33 minutes ago

Pop singer Madonna has made a donation to the earthquake-stricken Italian hometown of her ancestors.

Madonna's paternal grandparents lived in the village of Pacentro, in the Abruzzo region which was the scene of a 6.3 magnitude earthquake on Monday. More than 260 people are dead.

People magazine reported the donation to be $US500,000.

The singer's New York-based public relations team confirmed Madonna had made a donation, but did not give an amount.

"I am happy to lend a helping hand to the town that my ancestors are from," Madonna said in a statement.

"My heart goes out to the families that have lost loved ones or their homes."

Fernando Caparso, the mayor of Pacentro, told AP he is deeply moved by Madonna's effort to assist the town, as well as surrounding areas.

- AFP

[Narkis]

L'à-qui-la.

Make sure to pronounce the L and A together. My old Italian teacher who was from the Abruzzi region pronounced it LA-quee-la, emphasis on the first syllable and said as a whole world.

Thanks. None of them got it right after all. Most stressed the third syllable, and some used said it more exotic ways.