Italian authorities are doing “excellent” work carrying out search and rescue operations as well as responding to people’s needs after strong earthquakes struck the country, a UN official has noted.

A magnitude-6.2 earthquake and a series of aftershocks devastated the regions of Umbria, Lazio and Le Marche, killing around 250 people, media reports say.

On the same day in Myanmar, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake left three people dead, damaging ancient temples and cultural sites.

The Sendai Framework, a global agreement to mitigate disasters when they strike in order to save more lives is the brainchild of UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).

A spokesperson for the agency, Denis McClean, began by commending Italy for taking swift action. He spoke to Jocelyne Sambira on the line from Geneva.

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