Italian geologists said Tuesday
the damage on Ischia was not "normal" for a 4.0-magnitude quake
but local mayors rebutted that the scale of the damage was not
linked to illegal construction on the Bay of Naples island.
Egidio Grasso, head of the Campania geologists' guild, said
"it's not normal for a 4.0-magnitude quake to cause the collapse
of building, the evacuation of hospitals, and, sadly, the
tragedy of two victims, as well as missing and many injured".
In a statement, Ischia's six mayors said they "deplored the
false news relating to alleged damage and collapses all over the
island and non-existent links between the seismic event and
phenomena linked to illegal building."
They said the quake had "mostly" damaged old buildings
including a church already destroyed by a big 1883 quake, which
was rebuilt.
European Humanitarian Crisis Commissioner Christos
Stylianides tweeted that "the EU is ready to help".
Naples Mayor Luigi de Magistris said Naples had taken "all
possible action" since news of the quake broke.
The Italian government has vowed to do everything possible to
help the islanders.
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