Amatrice's slow reconstruction stirs anger a decade on

Ten years after the earthquake that devastated Amatrice, the central Italian town is still waiting for much of its reconstruction, according to the Guardian. As of April, two-thirds of planned public projects in Amatrice had yet to begin, rising to seven in 10 in the hardest-hit areas, the newspaper reported.

Residents gathered in Amatrice on Monday for a mass marking the anniversary of the 24 August 2016 quake, which killed 299 people across central Italy. The slow pace of rebuilding has become a source of growing anger in the town, the Guardian's reporting indicates.

The anniversary comes as Italy's broader post-quake recovery remains incomplete, with the region stretching from Umbria through Marche and into Abruzzo still bearing the scars of the disaster.

The 2016 earthquake struck in the early hours of 24 August, destroying much of Amatrice and neighbouring towns including Accumoli and Arquata del Tronto. The Guardian's coverage of the anniversary notes that the mass was held as the town continues to grapple with the aftermath of the disaster that killed 299 people.

For the Marche region, which borders the worst-hit areas and suffered significant damage itself, the slow reconstruction has broader implications. The region's inland towns have struggled with depopulation in the decade since the quake, with many displaced residents choosing not to return. The Guardian's report focuses on Amatrice but the pattern of delayed rebuilding has been a recurring theme across the affected areas of central Italy.

The Guardian reported that as of April this year, two-thirds of planned public projects in Amatrice had not started, with the figure rising to 70 percent in the most badly damaged zones. The newspaper's coverage suggests the frustration reflects not just the physical rebuilding but also the emotional toll on communities that have waited a decade for their homes and public buildings to be restored.

The anniversary mass on Monday drew residents together, but the Guardian's reporting makes clear that the mood is one of impatience rather than celebration. The slow pace of reconstruction, the newspaper indicates, has become a symbol of the challenges facing Italy's post-disaster recovery efforts more broadly.