A Canadian citizen is among the victims of a devastating earthquake in Italy that killed at least 250 people, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion has confirmed.
“I was extremely saddened to see the tragic loss of life following the devastating earthquake in central Italy, which now includes the death of a Canadian citizen,” Dion said in a statement Thursday.
“We share in the grief of the lives cut short by this terrible event.”
On behalf of the federal government, Dion expressed condolences to the family and friends of the Canadian victim, but did not provide any details.
The magnitude 6.2 quake struck central Italy in the early morning hours on Wednesday, destroying large swaths of ancient towns. The death toll currently stands at 250, and hundreds more were injured.
Residents and rescue crews continued their search for survivors on Thursday, digging through the rubble and sending sniffer dogs to hard-to-reach areas.
The hardest-hit communities were the tiny towns of Amatrice and Accumoli near Rieti, about 100 kilometres northeast of Rome, and Pescara del Tronto, 25 kilometres further to the east.
In his statement, Dion said that Canadian citizens in Italy requiring emergency consular assistance should contact the Embassy of Canada to Italy in Rome at +39 06 85444 2911, or call Global Affairs Canada’s 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre collect at +1 613 996 8885.
With files from The Associated Press
