Spanish woman confirmed among victims of earthquake in Italy

The Spanish Foreign Ministry has confirmed to EL PAÍS that a Spanish woman is among the victims of the earthquake that struck central Italy on Wednesday. Ana Huete, 26 and from Granada, was on vacation in the area where the disaster struck with her Italian boyfriend, according to the Red Cross.

The parents of the victim traveled to Italy on Wednesday night to bring her body back to Granada

The earthquake affected a mountainous and sparsely populated area, around 140 kilometers from Rome. Another devastating earthquake struck the same area in 2009. The historic town of Amatrice is among those that have been razed to the ground by the natural disaster.

Huete was from the Granada town of Alfacar. She was employed at a pizza restaurant on Constitución avenue in the center of the city and was in Italy with her boyfriend for a break that was to last several days. The parents of the victim, who were informed of the news by her boyfriend, traveled to Italy on Wednesday night to bring her body back to Granada, where her funeral will take place.

The earthquake, which measured 6 on the Richter scale, hit the center of Italy in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The death toll currently stands at 247, with hundreds injured or still missing.

Since the tragedy struck the Spanish embassy and consulates have been in contact with the Italian authorities to check on the situation of Spaniards who could have been in the affected areas. The Foreign Ministry has called on Spanish citizens who are in the area to call +39 335 33 34 38 and report on their whereabouts and situation.

English version by Simon Hunter.