President János Áder and Speaker of Parliament László Kövér have sent condolences to the victims and their families in Italy following the earthquake that claimed at least 247 lives yesterday.
Hungary is also prepared to send humanitarian aid to Italy to help with their recovery efforts. In the latest information, there are no Hungarian victims, according to János Lázár, minister heading the Prime Minister's Office.
In his telegram to Italian President Sergio Mattarella, President Áder expressed sympathy with families of the victims and with those who have lost their homes, the president’s office said.
“On this sad day we also stand in spirit with the people of Italy, a friend of Hungary,” Áder said and expressed hope that restoration work can soon start in the disaster hit regions of Lazio and Umbria.
House Speaker László Kövér sent condolences on behalf of all of the deputies of the Hungarian parliament to Laura Boldrini, president of the Chamber of Deputies of Italy’s parliament and Pietro Grasso, president of the Italian Senate. He reassured the Italian politicians of Hungary’s solidarity and asked them to convey Hungary’s sympathies to the families of the victims and those injured in the earthquake.
The Hungarian Catholic Bishops’ Conference (MKPK) has said it will send 20 million HUF (EUR 64,600) in emergency aid to the victims of the earthquake. In a statement, the MKPK expressed condolences to the families of those who were killed in the disaster. The aid will be sent through the Italian bishops’ conference, they added.
Meanwhile, the death toll has risen to at least 247 and more than 360 people injured after the magnitude 6.2 quake struck a mountainous area 150km north-east of Rome.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi called for national unity after visiting the stricken area. The search for victims continued throughout the night as the army has been mobilized in the rescue effort and field hospitals have been set up, Euronews reported today.