(ANS –
L’Aquila, 6 Apr 2009) – At 3.30 in the morning an earthquake of 5.8 magnitude (8-9
degrees on the Mercalli scale), struck central Italy. The number of victims
is uncertain but the total is rising in the Abruzzo Region, the epicentre
of the earthquake.
The Salesian house in L’Aquila, “Saint John Bosco”, located in the central area of the city was seriously damaged, especially the two storey building housing the Salesian community and a university hostel.
The five Salesians in the community and the hundred or so young university students are unhurt. After feeling the first shock, the religious and the young people gathered in the courtyard of the Institute and spent the rest of the night there.
In the light of dawn, plucking up courage they went in to building to recover some things and assess the damage. Some of the young people left the city to return to their own homes.
T
he “Saint
John Bosco” Salesian Institute opened in 1932, today provides the city of
L’Aquila with a vocation training centre, an oratory and youth centre as
well as the university hostel.
Given the severity of the quake, the Civil Protection Officials expect the number of victims to increase as searches continue among the rubble.