Italian restaurant Rustico is looking to raise funds to support those affected by a devastating earthquake while giving patrons a taste of the affected region.

Natalie Angeli, owner of Rustico, said that the restaurant would be offering Amatriciana — a speciality of the devastated Italian town of Amatrice — as a special and donating a portion of the proceeds of each sale to disaster relief.

“We heard that Italian restaurants across the world were being encouraged to make donations for every plate of the pasta dish sold, that is named after the town of Amatrice, one of the worst hit by the earthquake,” she said.

“They were due to celebrate the dish in their 50th Annual Food Festival this weekend.

“The dish is pasta in a tomato-based sauce with pancetta or guanciale, and starting lunchtime today and continuing for the month of September, for every portion sold at Rustico Restaurant in Flatts, we will donate $5 to the Red Cross disaster appeal.”

Amatrice was rocked early on Wednesday morning — Tuesday night Bermuda time — by a magnitude 6.2 earthquake which killed more than 250 people and injured hundreds more.

Rescue efforts continued yesterday with dozens believed to be trapped in collapsed buildings across the region.

In the wake of the disaster, MEF restaurants have prepared donation boxes and Donald Richardson will be at Lindo’s in Warwick collecting funds for the Bermuda Red Cross.

The Bermuda Red Cross is also accepting donations through online transfer to Butterfield Bank a/c 20 006 060 663859 200 in the name of Bermuda Red Cross, Disaster Appeal 2.

Donations can also be made by phone at 236-8253 or at their offices on Berry Hill Road.