The slow rebirth of Amatrice ten years after the earthquake - THE REPORT

A six-hundred-meter stretch of asphalt has recently revived a path long abandoned in Amatrice, ten years after the earthquake that devastated the town. The road known as Corso Umberto I, once a symbol of destruction, now stretches with a thin layer of blacktop, slicing through the historic center. It marks a small but tangible sign of recovery, though much of the town remains under construction, dust-covered, and filled with scaffolding and ruins. The earthquake struck on August 24, 2016, killing 299 people in the mountain villages of the Appennines, including Arquata del Tronto and Accumoli. The clock tower of the civic building, the only structure left standing, still shows the time, 3:36, as if frozen in the moment of tragedy. Sergio Pirozzi, the former mayor who became a voice of the disaster, recalls how the community processed its collective grief over the past decade. He explains that each person dealt with the loss at their own pace, and while the bodies were buried, the emergency phase began immediately. Over a thousand residents were displaced, many ending up in temporary housing units known as SAEs. To date, less than 20 percent have returned to their homes, some refusing to return out of fear, others attempting to profit from the situation. These prefabricated shelters have become de facto neighborhoods, marked by signs of life that make them feel like places lived in for generations. One such resident is Umberto, an 80-year-old man who says he feels fine but plans to move once his home is completed, having spent a lifetime’s savings on it. The main street is lined with cyclists on day trips through the mountains, alongside a few cars. Except for a handful of newly habitable buildings, most residents live in containers. From the new city hall to the foundations of the carabinieri station, and from the police station to the banks and post office, everything awaits reconstruction. The latest hope for renewal comes with the planned opening of a hospital in 2027, a massive facility still wrapped in scaffolding, waiting to emerge as a regional healthcare hub between Rieti and Ascoli. Sonia Santarelli, president of the 3.36 Committee, a group formed immediately after the quake, notes that five reconstruction commissioners have been appointed, yet the only service functioning is the school. She will not attend the anniversary event, protesting the slow progress. Today, more than ever, the survival of the community is at risk: among the 2,323 registered residents, fewer than 1,000 actually live in Amatrice, and only three or four children are born in the town each year. Giorgio Cortellesi, the current mayor, walks the streets of the old town, where cranes move steadily overhead. He believes the city can be reborn despite the intermittent nature of the construction projects, which often face delays due to issues with contractors. Yet the bigger challenge lies beyond bricks and mortar. “Here,” he says, “20 percent of the population requires assistance because they isolate themselves and struggle to go outside. We need spaces that bring people together, the theater and two small shopping centers aren’t enough.” Local restaurateurs are also trying to revive the area, focusing on tourism linked to second homes owned by Romans, just a couple of hours away. Giovanni Apa, one such restaurateur, points to a flyer announcing the “Amatriciana Day” established on March 6th. He notes that there were once 38 hospitality venues, but now only 29 remain. At the church of Saint Augustine, a wooden crucifix statue stands in a container after the collapse of the original structure. Father Savino, who served as parish priest for 18 years and frequently visits to oversee the rebuilding of Casa Futura, an orphanage that collapsed and is now being reconstructed, continues to offer spiritual guidance and support to the community.