Guido Castelli reports progress on Central Italy earthquake reconstruction

Guido Castelli, the extraordinary commissioner for the reconstruction of Central Italy, provided an update on the recovery efforts following the August 24, 2016, earthquake. Speaking at the 60th SAIE International Exhibition of Building Technology in Bologna, Castelli noted that the reconstruction process in Abruzzo, Lazio, Marche, and Umbria has entered a more stable phase.

Key figures reported include over 18 billion euros in requests for private reconstruction, with nearly 24,000 authorized construction sites and more than 15,500 completed. For public works, 3,667 interventions have been programmed, totaling over 4.85 billion euros, with 98% of the works unblocked.

Castelli emphasized that while the initial years were marked by bureaucratic difficulties and uncertainty, the current progress is significant. He stated, “the light at the end of the tunnel is clearly visible.” However, he highlighted that the primary remaining challenge is cultural, stressing the need for increased national awareness regarding seismic and landslide prevention, given Italy's high vulnerability to extreme events.