Amatrice faces slow reconstruction ten years after earthquake

Ten years after the devastating earthquake that struck central Italy, the town of Amatrice remains a symbol of slow reconstruction and bureaucratic delays. The 2016 seismic event resulted in 299 deaths, 365 injuries, and displaced over 40,000 people.

President Sergio Mattarella issued a warning regarding the disaster, emphasizing the need to strengthen prevention and intervention mechanisms. Despite the passage of a decade, only about 30% of the town has been rebuilt. Many residents continue to live in temporary housing, and significant portions of the area remain inaccessible or lack essential services and shops.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with victims' families to commemorate the event, noting that "too many delays and false starts" have hindered the recovery process. The situation highlights ongoing challenges in managing public works and the urgent need to repopulate the affected regions to preserve their social fabric.