Bulgarian rescue teams are ready to leave for Italy, to help in the search for survivors after the earthquake Monday that destroyed much of the historic town of L'Aquila.

The Bulgarian Emergency Situations Minister Emel Etem, who is on a visit to the United States, stated that Bulgaria is willing to help its Italian partners in their hour of need if requested, BTA reported late Monday.

The Bulgarian Emergency Situations Ministry can send two teams comprising of 30 people each, Civil Protection Director Stefko Bourdjiev said..The Bulgarian National Fire Service is also willing to send teams with full equipment.

Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov cabled condolences to his Italian counterpart Giorgio Napolitano over the loss of lives in the earthquake, Parvanov's press office confirmed.

"In connection with this tragic event, which plunged many families into grief and darkened all Italy, please convey to the relatives of the victims on my behalf and on behalf of the entire Bulgarian people most sincere condolences and compassion. I express hope for a quick and successful recovery of the Italian citizens injured in the disaster," Parvanov wrote.

PM Sergey Stanishev also cabled condolences to Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi, the Government Information Service informed.

According to the Bulgarian Consul in Rome Mariana Boyadjieva, no Bulgarians have been reported injured in the earthquake.

She said that some 1 000 Bulgarians live in the region of Abruzzo, where the epicenter was located. Most of them are in Pescara, where there is no damage to property.

There is an association of Bulgarians in Abruzzo, and some 50 Bulgarians live in L'Aquila, but no one has approached the embassy or the association to report victims, Boyadjieva said.

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