ITALY: Earthquake memorial ceremonies held in L'Aquila amid calls for faster restoration of the historic centre

Record ID: 805150

  • Title: ITALY: Earthquake memorial ceremonies held in L'Aquila amid calls for faster restoration of the historic centre
  • Date: 7th April 2010
  • Summary: WREATH CEREMONY BEGINS CIVIL PROTECTION OFFICIALS WALKING BEHIND WREATH PEOPLE WATCHING HEAD OF CIVIL PROTECTION FORCE GUIDO BERTOLASO, IN FRONT OF WREATH, CROSSES HIMSELF
  • Embargoed: 22nd April 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVA3KZ8DZRRWJ0H7IGVNHFZHIEQU
  • Story Text: Residents of L'Aquila and civil authorities on Tuesday (April 6) laid wreaths to mark the first anniversary of the earthquake that killed hundreds and left most of the city and surrounding villages in ruins.
    Over three hundred people were killed and at least 1500 injured when the 6.3 magnitude quake struck at 03:32 (01:32 GMT). Tens of thousands were made homeless.
    Head of the Civil Protection force, Guido Bertolaso, led a wreath-laying ceremony at an old army barracks in Coppito, just outside L'Aquila. The barracks served as headquarters for the rescue operation immediately after the quake struck and were used for mass funerals days later. In July the compound was overtaken by G8 leaders and their entourages for the 2009 summit.
    Officials insist the rescue operation and renovation efforts over the past year have been successful.
    "The calendar testifies it (how quickly we worked to start restoration)," Bertolaso told reporters. "After a few hours we had built the tent cities; within the first day we were assisting seventy thousand displaced people between 160 tent cites and the hotels along the (Adriatic) coast. We initiated procedures to begin restoration works in damaged houses in June, then we had the great challenge of the G8 summit and after that the reopening of schools which for us was a must and it was our great challenge to do so in time for the normal September opening".
    Many of the city's homeless live in hotels along the Adriatic coast or barrack-style housing, at government expense. Critics, however, say the new housing estates are too far from the city centre and lack transport links, shops and public services.
    But it is the situation inside the walled city - the historic centre - that has elicited the strongest criticism. The area remains severely damaged, largely cordonned off and off-limits to all but emergency services and construction engineers. Thousands have yet to return home or move into new housing.
    Residents describe a ghost town and there are regular protests at how little they say has been done to restore the ancient buildings.
    At 15:52 (13:52 GMT) - a year and twelve hours after the earthquake struck - crowds released 308 balloons, one for each victim.
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