Air rescue teams respond to Italy earthquake
The national Italian fire service Vigili del Fuoco is involved in ongoing search and rescue efforts following the earthquake that hit Italy on Tuesday.
Search and rescue operations continue in the aftermath of the magnitude-6.2 earthquake that hit central Italy on Tuesday. The national Italian fire service Vigili del Fuoco (CNVVF) is involved in these efforts, operating six helicopters, including an AB412, A109 and AB206.
The earthquake hit a mountainous area of central Italy at 03:36 hrs and, according to Italy’s Civil Protection Department, has killed at least 247 people, with many more injured and displaced. The death toll is expected to rise as specialised teams and sniffer dogs search for people trapped beneath the rubble, and are faced with the continuing threat of aftershocks.
The villages of Amatrice and Accumoli are thought to have been worst hit, and the extent of the damage has been captured by drone and helicopter footage. On Tuesday, the CNVVF reportedly spent a total of around 45 hours surveying the affected areas, transporting injured people to hospital facilities and taking aerial shots.
Search and rescue teams have said they will continue searching until they have found every missing person. “At the moment we need to employ all our forces to save human lives, treat the injured and ensure the best conditions for the people displaced,” said Italian President Sergio Mattarella.