[Lauchenoiria]

Lauchenoirian Guardian

17 Lauchenoirians among dead in Zamastan earthquake
1st September 2019

Seventeen Lauchenoirians were among those killed by an 8.3 magnitude earthquake which struck Zamastan on Saturday afternoon. The earthquake claimed over 2,800 lives and has caused large amounts of damage to buildings, including many historical landmarks such as Hapson Lake Hosanna Church in Tofino.

Prime Minister Josephine Alvarez joined numerous world leaders in expressing her condolences to Zamastan today, saying: “this is a terrible tragedy that has hit the nation of Zamastan, claiming thousands of lives including seventeen Lauchenoirians. All of Lauchenoiria grieves with Zamastan today, and my thoughts are with the families of the many victims of this tragic disaster.”

It is expected that numerous nations will send assistance to Zamastan following the earthquake, with President Tyagi-Kennedy of United New England stating that UNE would be willing to ‘provide monetary and medical aid wherever it is needed’, and Sanctarian Foreign Secretary Brian Young announced he would meet with SanctariaAid to discuss the deployment of aid workers to Zamastan.

Lauchenoirians in Zamastan who have been affected by the earthquake have been urged to get in contact with the Lauchenoirian embassy in Tofino if they require assistance. The government has also advised Lauchenoirians to temporarily avoid travelling to areas of Zamastan affected by the earthquake for non-essential purposes. A helpline has been set up for those with family and friends in Zamastan looking for information.

Among the Lauchenoirians affected was Nataniel Valencia, whose wife was killed in the earthquake. He had fled Lauchenoiria in July 2018 during the civil war, seeking safety with his wife and 6-year-old son. “My wife Gema was in the café where she works when the earthquake hit, collapsing a wall of the building and killing her. We came here seeking safety from the war, but now she’s dead and our son will grow up without a mother.”

Nataniel is planning to return to Lauchenoiria with his son, claiming there is ‘nothing left’ for them in Zamastan. It is predicted that several Lauchenoirians in Zamastan may seek to return following the catastrophe. Lauchenoirians seeking to return are urged to contact the embassy for assistance in booking flights.