At 01.39 GMT of 6 April 2009 a big earthquake has destroyed many villages around L’Aquila not too far from Rome.
At time writing, over 150 deads and 1500 injured are reported by medias, along to tens thousands of people that will have to spend many night without coming back to their houses.
Ham Radio operators have been the firsts to announce the disaster to the world, and to support communications locally, permitting the rescue machine system to start and coordinate Italian govern from Rome.
Italian public TV Service has recognized to “Radioamatori” a tribute with an interview on their activity and preparedness in case of similar events.
Here a short transcript of DX Cluster announcements during the first moments and hours of “Terremoto” (heartquake)
I0DJV earthquake in central Italy …..help … 0322 06 Apr
IK0BZY —> ARAC disattivate l’R1 del guadagnolo interferisce con 0320 06 Apr
K6ASK ioknq Magnitude 6.3 CENTRAL ITALY 0243 06 Apr
IV3UHL poi monitoro …. 0235 06 Apr
IV3UHL I0TER anche se non il tuo call…Forse…ma forse hai detto0228 06 Apr
IV3UHL LOOCK NEWS ON WEB ..IF DIFFICULT WILL ALERT THE TEAM 0206 06 Apr
I0KNQ x iv3uhl penso di si non ho altre info il sisma e’ stato av0204 06 Apr
IV3UHL knq ok provo contatto PC DAMMI ….CONFERMA DANNI 0202 06 Apr
K6ASK I0KNQ check http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/last_event/world_ital0201 06 Apr
I0KNQ x ik0fta sergio c 6? 0201 06 Apr
I0KNQ x iv3uhl prova a contattare qualcuno della zona 6 l’epicent0200 06 Apr
IK0FTA earthquake in central ItALY seems some damages near l’Aquil0158 06 Apr
IV3UHL KNQ se possiamo 328 2547409 + protezione civile 0157 06 Apr
IV3UHL I0KNQ..STESSO MAGNITUDO 6/05/76 IN Friuli tienici aggiornat0155 06 Apr
I0KNQ e’ dal tempo del friuli del 77 che non sentivo qua’ una cos0153 06 Apr
I0KNQ scusa iv3uhl appena so’ qualche altra notizia te la dico .0152 06 Apr
IV3UHL 6,7 mi sembra un po’ forte… 0152 06 Apr
I0KNQ to iv3uhl sry i not have other info… 0151 06 Apr
IV3UHL ik0hnq:danni??? 0150 06 Apr
I0KNQ hearth quake listen to roma vy strong! 0149 06 Apr
I0KNQ heartquake to abruzzo magnitudo 6.7 scala richter 0148 06 Apr
IV3UHL ik0fta grado??? danni? 0147 06 Apr
IK0FTA earthquake in central Italy any info? 0145 06 Apr
Currently HF frequencies used for RAE are:
40 M – 7.045 Mhz and 7.052Mhz (7.057 Mhz)
80 M – 3.640 Mhz and 3613 Mhz
Of course, clearing that frequencies, and those immediatey above, will be important.