Amatrice Commemorates Earthquake Victims Ten Years After Devastation

Ten years ago, the night of August 24, 2016, brought unimaginable destruction to central Italy. A powerful magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck, its epicenter near Amatrice, a historic town two hours from Rome. In mere seconds, the town's core was reduced to rubble, claiming 239 lives in Amatrice alone. Across the region, nearly 300 people perished, hundreds were injured, and thousands were left homeless.

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Amatrice no longer exists.

The images of devastation were broadcast globally, none more iconic than a lone firefighter surveying the ruins under a somber sky. The then-mayor, Sergio Pirozzi, famously declared, "Amatrice no longer exists." A decade later, the scars remain visible. Construction sites and ruins still dominate the landscape, and many residents in the border regions of Lazio, Umbria, and Marche continue to reside in emergency shelters.

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There are many construction sites in Amatrice, and work is being done to rebuild the town. But there is still much to do.

Despite billions in state aid, the rebuilding process has been painfully slow. Official figures indicate that less than 40 percent of damaged buildings have been restored. "There are many construction sites in Amatrice, and work is being done to rebuild the town. But there is still much to do," a local resident told SkyTG24, expressing hope for the future. The government's special commissioner for reconstruction, Guido Castelli, acknowledged past mistakes that hindered progress but stated that efforts are now moving at a different pace.

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I hope that one day many people will live in the municipality again. I would be very happy about that.

On the tenth anniversary, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is expected to attend a memorial ceremony in Amatrice, which officially has about 2,100 inhabitants. The day's commemorations include a wreath-laying ceremony and a memorial mass led by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, president of the Italian Bishops' Conference. The event is anticipated to draw numerous attendees to the town.

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Unfortunately, mistakes were made in the first years, for which we are still paying. But in the meantime, we are moving forward at a different pace.