TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in a message to Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi offered his condolences on the loss of lives in a powerful earthquake in central Italy, assuring the Italian nation of Iran’s support in these tough days.

In the message on Thursday, President Rouhani expressed Iran’s deep sympathy to the Italian government and nation and bereaved families of the victims.

“I assure you that we will stand by the friend nation, Italy, in these difficult moments,” the president added.

The earthquake struck a mountainous stretch of central Italy early Wednesday, killing at least 247 people and trapping scores under debris.

The tremor, which had a preliminary magnitude of 6.2, struck at 3:36 a.m., about 6.5 miles southeast of the town of Norcia in the Umbria region, followed by about 200 aftershocks over the next several hours.

Towns in three regions -Umbria, Lazio and Marche- have been devastated by the quake.

By Tasnim News Agency