'Tragic and traumatic' - Gov't reaches out to relatives of J'can-Italian family killed in bridge collapse

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade has confirmed a report first published by The Sunday Gleaner that Jamaica-born Dawna Munroe, her Italian husband Cristian Cecala, and their nine-year-old daughter Crystal, who was also born in Jamaica, were among the 43 killed when a bridge collapsed in Genoa, Italy, on August 15.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kamina Johnson Smith has conveyed condolences, through the Jamaican ambassador in Geneva, to the Cecala and Munroe families.

"We recognise that this is a most tragic and traumatic incident and we continue to pray for all the families and the country of Italy during this difficult period of national mourning," said Johnson Smith.

She added: "Although we are only commenting on the matter of the Cecala family now, the ministry has been communicating with relatives through our ambassador as well as Jamaica's honorary consul in Rome and has offered support.

"We are, however, mindful of certain sensitivities surrounding the event and must always act responsibly and in ways that are in the best interest of the families."

The bodies of the three members of the family were among the last to be recovered from the scene of the accident, where a section of a bridge on a main highway linking Italy with France collapsed in the Italian port city of Genoa, during a violent storm.

The foreign ministry has also confirmed that representatives of both families are in Italy.

The ministry said in light of the Italian citizenship of the family; the Italian government has taken charge of the situation and has assigned a Red Cross representative to provide additional support.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade will provide further information to the public, as the family may deem appropriate," said Johnson Smith.