Iran ready to send aid to temblor-hit Italy

Iran has offered aid to Italy for the recent earthquakes that killed a number of people and left thousands of Italians homeless in the north of the country.

In a telephone conversation with his Italian counterpart Giulio Terzi, Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi expressed his sorrow over the incident and said Iran was ready to send aid to Italy.

The Italian foreign minister for his part praised Iran’s sympathy and offer of help.

A 6.0-magnitude quake killed at least six and left thousands homeless in the north of Italy on 20 May. The tremor caused significant damage to the region’s historic buildings.

The second tremor measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale in the same region claimed at least 17 lives and injured another 350 on Tuesday.

The second earthquake also caused heavy damage. Dozens of aftershocks have also jolted the region.

According to the Italian government, 8,000 people were displaced by Tuesday’s quake, which adds to the 6,000 residents already living in tent camps since the May 20 quake.

Prime Minister Mario Monti has pledged that his government will do whatever necessary to restore normal life to the area, which is crucial to the country’s economy.

The quake-struck area covers the northern cities of Modena, Mantua and Bologna.