Amatrice reconstruction stalls a decade after deadly earthquake

As residents of Amatrice gathered on Monday for a mass to mark the 10th anniversary of the earthquake that devastated the central Italian town, the Guardian reported that reconstruction remains painfully slow. According to the newspaper, as of April two-thirds of planned public projects in Amatrice had yet to begin, a figure rising to seven in ten in the hardest-hit areas.

The 2016 quake struck on 24 August, killing hundreds of people and flattening much of the historic town, which had been known for its cuisine and its place on the annual pasta festival circuit. A decade on, the Guardian's reporting describes a community still waiting for the return of normal life, with many residents housed in temporary accommodation while public buildings and infrastructure remain unfinished.

The slow pace of reconstruction in Amatrice has become a symbol of the challenges facing Italy's disaster recovery efforts, particularly in smaller towns where administrative capacity is limited and funds are slow to flow. The Guardian's report notes the frustration of locals who see the anniversary as a moment of reckoning for promises made after the disaster.