After an earthquake shook central Italy on Wednesday, August 24, leaving nearly 2,700 people without a place to live. Having a magnitude of 6.2, it killed 290 people, the latest number, in and around the town of Amatrice. It took days to get everyone out of the rubble with almost 90% of the bodies being pulled out deceased.
According to the Associated Press, the currently homeless people are staying in 58 tent camps or in shelters like a gym in Amatrice set up by Italy’s Civil Protection Agency. The Associated Press also noted that many were sleeping in their cars close to their homes for fear of looters.
Before the quake, Amatrice was a center of food- agriculture in its region of Lazio, according to Google and Wikipedia, as well as the Associated Press. The region has a large population of farm animals, which also need shelter as nearly 90 percent of barns in Amatrice were destroyed.
The 13th century town was not prepared to handle the quake, many of the buildings being from that time period. Orlando Sandro, an engineer, told the Guardian that many of the fountains and buildings that were not destroyed by the tremors would have to be pulled down because of their destroyed structures. The Italian government is currently in talks with architects to find ways of building safer, warmer homes for the people in the affected area.
Pope Francis, along with the rest of the world, took to prayer for the people whose lives were destroyed, focusing on the children.
“Hearing the mayor of Amatrice say the town no longer exists, that there are children among the victims, I am deeply saddened.”
France and Germany have also expressed their emotions and have offered help wherever they can give it.
Amazingly, the clock tower of Amatrice, dating back to the 13th century is still standing tall over the city and seems as though it will be able to remain so.
