On Sunday, October 30, at 7:41AM, a severe earthquake struck Central Italy, two months after the devastating earthquake in August that killed 300 people and collapsed entire villages. The recent quake was registered at a magnitude of 6.5 on the Reichter scale, which is the biggest earthquake Italy has experienced since 1980. At least 20 people were injured in the quake, with no deaths reported so far. The quake was followed by hundreds of aftershocks that damaged buildings and infrastructure, leaving villages cut off and at least 15,000 people without electricity.
Map of the epicenter and surrounding cities in Central Italy
Rome was greatly affected by the earthquake, leaving the main subway systems damaged. Several historical sites in the Vatican, including St. Paul’s Basilica, suffered cracks from the quake. Many surrounding towns, already weakened by the August earthquake, saw the loss of several more buildings and important structures, such as churches, walls and roads.
Cracks can be seen in St. Paul’s Basilica after the earthquake
However, Norica was the most impacted town, being closest at the epicenter of the quake. Norica was the former site of the Basilica di San Benedetto (St. Benedict), which collapsed as a result of the earthquake. Most homes in Norica collapsed or were severely damaged, leaving very few residents remaining in the town.
Basilica di San Benedetto, Norica, Italy before October 30, 2016
Basilica di San Benedetto after the earthquake
Attempts to evacuate citizens, rescue the injured and rebuild villages have been made difficult by blocked roads and damaged infrastructure. The widespread loss of electricity in central Italy has also impeded these efforts. There is still a lot of concern, given the close timing of two significant earthquakes, as to whether another quake will soon follow. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in Rome vowed to rebuild damaged villages; “We will rebuild everything. We have the resources to do it.”
If you want to offer aid to those affected by these events, you can find several links here to different relief and non-profit organizations, such as the Italian Red Cross, The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), and Save the Children.
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