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RAZED TO THE GROUND

Shocking images show how whole towns STILL lie in ruins one year on from Italy earthquake that killed 299 as homeless Italians blast government for failing them

The Italian town is still surrounded by debris since the carnage, which killed 249 people, began a year ago.
 

RESIDENTS in Amatrice, the Italian town worst hit by a deadly earthquake a year ago today, gathered to mourn love loved ones in the disaster.

A torch-lit vigil was held at 3:36 am - the exact moment the earthquake hit central Italy - and the church clock tower which still stands today chimed its bell 249 times in memory of the number of people who died there.

Residents in Amatrice marked the one year anniversary of the devastating earthquake that hit central Italy as most of their town stood in rubble
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Residents in Amatrice marked the one year anniversary of the devastating earthquake that hit central Italy as most of their town stood in rubbleCredit: Rex Features
249 people died last August in the 6.2 magnitude earthquake and even though a year has passed, the Italian authorities have not progressed with reconstruction work
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249 people died last August in the 6.2 magnitude earthquake and even though a year has passed, the Italian authorities have not progressed with reconstruction workCredit: Rex Features
Hundreds were injured and left needing temporary accomodation as the severe quake devastated Umbria
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Hundreds were injured and left needing temporary accomodation as the severe quake devastated UmbriaCredit: EPA

The 6.2 magnitude quake struck on August 24, 2016 and devastated the region of Umbria, near holiday hotspot Perugia.

Hundreds were injured and ­left needing emergency shelter in mountainous countryside strewn with landslides and collapsed bridges.

An eight-month-old boy and his nine-year-old brother were among a family of four killed in Accumoli.

Residents marked the anniversary in Amatrice with a candlelit vigil held at the exact time the earthquake hit
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Residents marked the anniversary in Amatrice with a candlelit vigil held at the exact time the earthquake hitCredit: EPA
Hundreds of mourners met to remember the natural disaster at 3:36 am, the time the earthqake hit the small town last year
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Hundreds of mourners met to remember the natural disaster at 3:36 am, the time the earthqake hit the small town last yearCredit: EPA
Even though the town is still in mourning, there is considerable anger over the government's lack of action
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Even though the town is still in mourning, there is considerable anger over the government's lack of actionCredit: EPA
Many residents are still stuck in temporary accommodation and some even have to live in caravans as they have nowhere else to go
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Many residents are still stuck in temporary accommodation and some even have to live in caravans as they have nowhere else to goCredit: EPA

The earthquake which ripped through communities in the rugged, hilly region still haunts the country.

Images taken in Amatrice still show the town surrounded by debris since the carnage began.

Just before midnight, residents paid their respects to each of the victims by reading out their names as well as an anecdote about their life in a two-hour ceremony punctuated by applause.

Other villages and hamlets where another 60 people died will hold their own ceremonies later on Thursday, with memorials planned in Accumoli, Arquata del Tronto and Pescara del Tronto
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Other villages and hamlets where another 60 people died will hold their own ceremonies later on Thursday, with memorials planned in Accumoli, Arquata del Tronto and Pescara del TrontoCredit: EPA
In the town of Accumoli Hundreds of residents  were moved into hotels in San Benedetto del Tronto and a year later, reconstruction work is moving at a sluggish pace
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In the town of Accumoli Hundreds of residents  were moved into hotels in San Benedetto del Tronto and a year later, reconstruction work is moving at a sluggish paceCredit: EPA
Even though the government have invested 6.1 billion Euros in the reconstruction of the area, many are furious over the many delays
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Even though the government have invested 6.1 billion Euros in the reconstruction of the area, many are furious over the many delaysCredit: Rex Features
The town's mayor Stefano Petrucci told VOA News: "It is not moving fast enough. We must begin to return to live as a community"
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The town's mayor Stefano Petrucci told VOA News: "It is not moving fast enough. We must begin to return to live as a community"Credit: Rex Features

They then gathered for a silent candlelit march which began at the local football pitch, where last year's mass funerals were held, which wound its way through the streets where many houses still lie in ruins.

Amatrice Mayor Sergio Pirozzi also unveiled a memorial called Fidelis Amatrix, after the words engraved on an ancient local coin.

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Other villages and hamlets where another 60 people died will hold their own ceremonies later on Thursday, with memorials planned in Accumoli, Arquata del Tronto and Pescara del Tronto.

Amatrice was observing a day of mourning on Thursday with locals joining a mass late morning which was also attended by Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni.

The quake devastated a huge area, causing damage to homes, schools, hospitals and churches costing an estimated £21billion.

Sergio Pirozzi urged the government to speed up the reconstruction work unless young people start to leave the region
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Sergio Pirozzi urged the government to speed up the reconstruction work unless young people start to leave the regionCredit: Rex Features
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Hundreds were left homeless in the disasterous quake last year, which has been blamed in part on shoddy building material
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Hundreds were left homeless in the disasterous quake last year, which has been blamed in part on shoddy building materialCredit: Rex Features
Amatrice was observing a day of mourning on Thursday with locals joining a mass late morning which was also attended by Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni
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Amatrice was observing a day of mourning on Thursday with locals joining a mass late morning which was also attended by Prime Minister Paolo GentiloniCredit: Rex Features

Three more violent quakes hit the same region in late October as well as one in mid-January that wiped out a hotel, killing 29 people.

Even though the government have invested 6.1 billion Euros in the reconstruction of the area, many are furious over the many delays.

Hundreds of residents of Accumoli were moved into hotels in San Benedetto del Tronto and a year later, reconstruction work is moving at a sluggish pace.

Central Italy has been hit with several earthquakes in recent decades and is notoriously slow at rebuilding towns and villages affected
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Central Italy has been hit with several earthquakes in recent decades and is notoriously slow at rebuilding towns and villages affectedCredit: Rex Features
8,000 residents are still living in temporary accommodation after a 2009 quake
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8,000 residents are still living in temporary accommodation after a 2009 quakeCredit: Rex Features
Less than 10 percent of the 4,000 tonnes of rubble littering the 140 hamlets, towns and cities affected has been cleared
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Less than 10 percent of the 4,000 tonnes of rubble littering the 140 hamlets, towns and cities affected has been clearedCredit: Rex Features

The town's mayor Stefano Petrucci told VOA News: "It is not moving fast enough. We must begin to return to live as a community."

Survivors from other towns are still living in temporary accommodation and some are living in caravans.

Sergio Pirozzi urged the government to speed up the reconstruction work unless young people start to leave the region.

L'Aquila has been hit by several earthquakes in recent decades and 8,000 residents are still living in temporary accommodation after a 2009 quake, according to the news site.

At the time of the 2016 quake, Italian authorities were concerned black market building materials had made the damage worse
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At the time of the 2016 quake, Italian authorities were concerned black market building materials had made the damage worseCredit: EPA
The government estimate it will take a decade to rebuild the towns affected
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The government estimate it will take a decade to rebuild the towns affectedCredit: EPA
Of the 3,830 temporary houses ordered for the region, only 456 have been delivered
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Of the 3,830 temporary houses ordered for the region, only 456 have been deliveredCredit: EPA

The government estimate it will take a decade to rebuild the towns and of the 3,830 temporary houses ordered for the region, only 456 have been delivered.

Less than 10 percent of the 4,000 tonnes of rubble littering the 140 hamlets, towns and cities affected has been cleared, with anti-corruption controls slowing work on the ground.

At the time of the 2016 earthquake, Italian authorities were concerned that black market building materials contributed to the casualty rate.

The government were also worried the mob would try and profit from the reconstruction work.

The head of the National Anti-Mafia Directorate Franco Roberti told La Repubblica: "Post-earthquake reconstruction is a tasty morsel for criminal organizations and business interests."

In Naples, two people died in a relatively small 4.0 magnitude earthquake on Monday
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In Naples, two people died in a relatively small 4.0 magnitude earthquake on MondayCredit: AP:Associated Press
But experts said that no one should have died in the disaster, blaming poor building work for the deaths
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But experts said that no one should have died in the disaster, blaming poor building work for the deathsCredit: AP:Associated Press
The civil protection agency laid the blame on the "many structures built with shoddy and illegal materials" on the island
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The civil protection agency laid the blame on the "many structures built with shoddy and illegal materials" on the islandCredit: Splash News

On Wednesday, experts warned illegal construction is putting millions across the country at risk of being killed.

The fears came after a relatively small 4.0-magnitude quake levelled several houses on Ischia, an island off Naples, on Monday, killing two people.

Geologists insisted that it should not have killed anyone and the civil protection agency laid the blame on the "many structures built with shoddy and illegal materials" on the island.

In July, eight people died in Naples when an apartment block collapsed, killing among others the municipal architect
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In July, eight people died in Naples when an apartment block collapsed, killing among others the municipal architectCredit: AP:Associated Press

Residents there have put in 28,000 requests for amnesties for infringement of building regulations in the last 30 years.

In July, eight people died in Naples when an apartment block collapsed, killing among others the municipal architect in charge of building security checks in the area.


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