MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia's Emergencies Ministry said Monday it would provide Italy with assistance following last week's deadly earthquake.
"At the request of Italian authorities, an Emergencies Ministry task force has already been sent to Italy to assess the volume and type of necessary assistance. Italy asked the Russian Emergencies Ministry to help assess the state of buildings and constructions affected by the earthquake," the ministry's press service told RIA Novosti.
A 6.2-magnitude earthquake shook Italy’s mountainous regions of Umbria, Lazio and Le Marche in the early hours of Wednesday. The disaster killed 290 people and caused extensive damage. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi declared a state of emergency in the affected regions.