Amatrice's Slow Reconstruction Tests Italy's Promise

As the town of Amatrice gathers for a mass to mark the tenth anniversary of the earthquake that devastated it in 2016, international reporting has focused on the slow pace of its reconstruction. According to the Guardian, as of April, two-thirds of planned public projects in the town had yet to begin, with the figure rising to seven in ten in the hardest-hit areas.

The earthquake, which struck central Italy on 24 August 2016, killed hundreds of people and flattened entire historic centres. A decade on, the Guardian reports that the town's recovery remains incomplete, with residents still waiting for the public buildings and infrastructure that were promised in the aftermath.

The anniversary has prompted a broader reflection on Italy's capacity to manage post-disaster reconstruction, a theme that resonates far beyond the borders of the affected region.