Backgrounder: Chronology of major
earthquakes since 2008
by Silvia Marchetti
L'AQUILA, Italy, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Earthquake survivors on Sunday
celebrated an open-air Easter Mass in the tent city of L'Aquila in the central
Italian region of Abruzzo amid ruins and anguish.
Early in the morning, hundreds of volunteers and brown-robed Capuchin monks
prepared traditional Easter food for refugees in the tent and set out tables and
chairs.
The mood was somber. About 150 homeless participated in the celebration in
L'Aquila where 1,300 people are still living. Archbishop Giuseppe Molinari
called on people to get united in face of the suffering.
A meal of lamb was served and children were given traditional chocolate
Easter eggs and dove-shaped cakes.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and President of the Chamber of
Deputies Gianfranco Fini also attended the celebration.
Berlusconi has been visiting the earthquake area every day since Monday
when the 5.8-magnitude earthquake jolted L'Aquila. Hehas promised local
residents that the government would not abandon them.
The prime minister said the government would decide to take emergency
measures to help the quake-stricken region. A government decree will be issued
to tackle the situation.
"The decree will contain financial aid for the local population and
building reconstruction," Berlusconi said.
"In two months' time, the homeless will leave the open-air camps. Once we
have certified which buildings can be inhabited, we will know how many citizens
can return to their own homes or are in need of a new house," he said.
More than 1,000 buildings, mostly public buildings, have been checked to
determine whether it is safe, the premier said. Only 152 private residences have
been examined, of which 25 are schools.
"We will do all we can to bring the people out of the tents," he said.
"It's our duty to make them comfortable in better places."
According to Berlusconi, more than 55,000 homeless people have been
provided with temporary housing after Monday's earthquake. Nearly 22,000 stayed
in hotels and private homes and another 33,306 in 106 tents.
Berlusconi said that never before in the last 15 years had he felt proud of
being an Italian.
"We will not commit the same mistakes as in the past. First we will bring
the people back to their houses, then we'll go on thinking of Abruzzo's
reconstruction".
"The emergency phase is over" even if after-shocks continue to occur but
with lesser intensity, Berlusconi said.
However, some quake victims found themselves still in no mood to celebrate
Easter. The presence of institutional leaders also gave hope to the homeless
people.
Luigi Farda, 35, who fled to the coastal town of Pescara after the quake,
said his anguish remains as deep as before.
"Many people I knew are dead, for two nights, my family and I were forced
to sleep in the car. Today it doesn't feel like Easterbut a day of suffering,"
he said.
Meanwhile, the number of quake victims has risen to 294 and the work to
search for victims has suspended.
Berlusconi also thanked the countries that had offered help in the region's
reconstruction phase.
He said a G8 meeting on sustainable development would be held in the
Abruzzo city of Pescara next month.
According to the prime minister, the first school will open Thursday in the
village of Poggio Picenza.
The government has also set up a special hotline to
help reconstruction in the quake-affected Abruzzo region.
Death toll from quake in central Italy
reaches 293
ROME, April 11
(Xinhua) -- Italian police said Saturday that the death toll from the earthquake in central Italy's Abruzzo region has risen to 293 while about 40,000
people were left homeless.
Officials from the Italian Civil Protection Department
said rescue efforts were continued Saturday while hopes had been dim for people
still beneath the ruins of buildings on the sixth day after the quake, local
media reported. Full story
Italy holds national funeral for quake
victims
L'AQUILA, Italy, April 10 (Xinhua) -- More than 8,000
weeping mourners took part in national funerals on Friday for 289 victims of the
earthquake that hit the capital L'Aquila of Abruzzo region, central Italy. Full story
Strong aftershock felt as Italy's
rescue operation enters second day
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A view of Santa Maria Paganica church,
damaged after an earthquake in the Abruzzo capital L'Aquila April 7, 2009.
(Xinhua/AFP Photo)
Photo Gallery>>> |
ROME, April 7 (Xinhua) -- A strong aftershock with a
magnitude of 5.5 to 5.7 on the MMS scale was felt in Italy's Abruzzo region as
rescue operations entered into the second day on Tuesday. While death toll rose
to more than 200. Full story
Strong earthquake strikes central
Italy
ROME, April 6 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake with a
magnitude of 6.3 rocked central Italy early Monday morning, damaging buildings
in the epicenter, some 95 km northeast of Rome, local media reported. Full story
Chinese president expresses
condolences over Italian quake
BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu
Jintao on Tuesday sent a message of condolences to his Italian counterpart
Giorgio Napolitano over the heavy loss of life and property in a deadly
earthquake that struck central Italy. Full story
