Yesterday morning, October 30, the earth shook again in central Italy, where, in reality, the seismic activity did not ever stop. It was a tremor with a magnitude of 6.5, the strongest since 1980, when the quake struck Irpinia.
The epicenter was identified near Norcia, but it was distinctly felt also in Rome, in all of Italy, and even in Austria. In fact, this time, the epicenter was also mainly superficial, about 10 kilometers deep.
The president of the Adventist Church expressed solidarity with the people affected. “In the name of the Italian Union of Seventh-Day Adventist Churches (UICCA), I join the entire nation in expressing nearness to the populations affected by the earthquake in central Italy,” affirmed Pastor Stefano Paris, president of the UICCA, in a message delivered this morning to the earthquake victims.
“Yesterday’s terrible quakes had devastating consequences. We thank the Lord because there were no mortal victims,” he added.
The president then delivered words of comfort to the citizens of the various towns and sectors of the Marche, Umbria and Lazio regions, severely damaged or completely destroyed.
“We pray for the injured and for the families who lost everything,” continued S. Paris.
“This recent strong quake seems to have broken down not only the walls of homes, but also the last hopes of the residents. The media showed us tear-stained faces covered with anguish (expressions of lives deeply tested by nature’s events), and yet so much dignity, truly “the people of the mountain”.
“To those affected, we want to say: Don’t lose hope! We pray that the Lord will give your hearts comfort, the vision of a still possible future and the strength to begin again. We also pray for all who are involved in and dedicated to the rescues.”
Finally, the president reminded of the Adventist Church’s commitment.
“Our nearness is expressed also in a concrete manner through the interventions of the humanitarian association ADRA, and the actions of many Adventist volunteers who wish to help.”
Mario Brito, President of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in the Inter-European Region (EUD), assured the solidarity of the entire Adventist Community in the Inter-European Region.
