There are no Filipinos among the 27 casualties in the powerful earthquake that struck Italy, the Philippin's foreign affairs department announced Monday.

“The DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) received initial reports from the Philippine Embassy in Rome that there are no Filipinos among casualties in the [Magnitude] 6.3 earthquake that struck central Italy, particularly in the city of L'Aquila,” said the DFA in a text message to abs-cbnNEWS.com

The DFA said that Embassy Labor Attaché Manuel Roldan has been in touch with Filipino community members in the affected area and reported that some Filipinos have lost their homes.

“These Filipinos and their families are now being assisted by the local Protezio ni Civile (Civil Protection Office),” said the DFA.

Based on records from the Italian Interior Ministry, there are some 150 Filipinos in L'Aquila.

“The Philippine Embassy is coordinating with the Interior Ministry and local authorities in assisting the community members,” the DFA said.

On Monday, ANC’s Take One was able to interview Armand Noma, a Filipino living in central Italy.

Noma told ANC the situation based on what was reported on local television.

“27 na ang namamatay as of now. Tapos karamihan mga estudyante kasi mayroong parang boarding house for students na isang bumagsak tapos mayroon pa rin mga damage dito sa side ng mga bahay nila. Very emotional ‘yong mga tao pati ‘yong dalawang newscasters dito umiiyak dahil nga doon sa nangyaring earthquake na malakas,” said Noma.

Noma said he wanted to escape to safer grounds for fear that the condominium where he is residing would be affected too by the earthquake.

“Kagabi nga nagulat din ako gusto ko na ngang bumaba ng bahay, umalis kasi nga ang lakas at matagal yung earthquake nakakatakot,” Noma said.

Although he said he had experienced earthquakes in the Philippines in the past, he still feels afraid because some of the condominiums in Italy do not have solid support.

“Kasi palibhasa mga condominium nasa third floor ako, ang lakas. ‘Yong pakiramdam mo nakakatakot siyempre kasi any moment baka bumigay ‘yong condominium. Usually kasi ‘yong condominium dito hindi naman ganoon katitibay na may malalaking bakal. Halos nga ‘yong lumang condominium dito wala talagang bakal,” he explained.

Noma added that Central Rome was not affected unlike its northern part, L’Aquila.

“Iyon talaga ang na-damage kasi iyong fault line daw dito usually daw ay dito sa mga mountainous side ng Rome,” he said.

He knew that there are Filipinos living in L’Aquila because the properties there are not that expensive.

“Kasi sa L'Aquila mura ang mga bahay. Minsan doon sila nagre-rent ng mga bahay yung iba nating kababayang Pilipino bumibili sila doon. Parang ginagawa nilang paupahan o bahay-bakasyunan pag dating ng summer,” Noma said.

Television reports, according to him, have not mentioned any Filipino as among those injured or who perished in the earthquake.

“Ayokong isipin. Sana nga wala tayong kababayang Pilipino na nasaktan o kung anuman ang nangyari. Pero wala pa naman akong nababalita dito sa TV na nire-report kung sino at kung anong lahi yung mga naaksidente o namatay. Wala pa namang nababalita. SInabi lang 27 pa lang yung nire-report nilang patay,” he said.