Amatrice Earthquake Damage

Stories of Earthquake Survival: Part 2

In our most recent post, we talked a little about the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, and the survival story of Ansel Adams. Today, we want to pay tribute to the more than 268 people who lost their lives to the recent 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck central Italy. Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of everyone who was lost, and we’re praying for a quick recovery for the more than 400 people who were injured, as well.

The quake hit on August 24 at 3:30 in the morning, so the majority of people were indoors at the time. The event has had devastating effects, but we are so thankful for every life that has been spared, especially as emergency workers continue to pull survivors from the rubble. As of August 25th, more than 215 survivors have been pulled from the wreckage.

Francesco di Paolo is from Amatrice—a very close-knit community that was one of the worst-affected areas. He helped his mother and grandmother escape in the middle of the night, and feels lucky that they are alive, but explains that the whole town was like family. The people whose lives were lost were not just people living in close proximity. Everyone knew everyone, and so the people who died were uncles, aunts, cousins… They will be missed.

Francesco, along with many other survivors, spent the 24 hours following the earthquake helping his neighbours and the efforts by the rescuers to pull people from the rubble. Soon, the Red Cross set up a camp and Francesco moved there with his mother, sending his grandmother to stay with friends on the coast.

Emotions continue to run high, as everyone has lost people they know and love. It was a terrible tragedy. But amidst the horror, people are trying to help each other. Everyone is pulling together, including the police, the rescue services, volunteers and Red Cross workers.

Nothing will be enough to fix the damage that has been done. But it might help to know that people across the world are mourning with those who have been affected by this disaster.

-Article contributed by Sophie Wooding – Avid gardener and cyclist in Victoria, BC and Content Writer for Frontier.io

 

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