The Italy earthquake happened on 6th April 2009. It was on a Monday.
It happened at Central Italy.
The compression of the Eurasian and African plates were linked to the event. However, it was mainly due to the extensional east-west tectonics and normal faulting that occupy the position along the entire Apennine belt, mainly a rejoinder to the Tyrrhenian basin opening faster than the compression of the respective plates.
The magnitude of the earthquake was 6.3.
The impact was very great, resulting the loss of at least 287 people's lives, one thousand people injured , 40,000 homeless and 10,000 buildings damaged or destroyed in the L'Aquila area.
What the government, of countries that have just experienced earthquakes, usually do is to extend help from rescue workers to look for survivors among the debris. Also, some companies in Italy stretched out their helping hands by sending free mobile phones, SIM cards and chargers for the earthquake victims who had lost their mobile phones. Voluntary contributions towards helping the Earthquake victims are to be continued as they are quite numerous to count. Though those companies are not part of the government, I think they took the effort to work hand in hand with the government to support/help the L'Aquila earthquake victims. This effort(s) are worth commending for!
My reflections: I think the government could possibly build more earthquake-ready buildings and if possible, the people must take action if there is an earthquake warning issued. Huge-scale evacuations should be carried out after that. Also, if space permits, other families in Italy can help the homeless out by offering them their homes to stay in.
Bibliography:
Website
USGS, http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2009/us2009fcaf/
Google, Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_L%27Aquila_earthquake#National_aid
