Reclaiming the Streets of Ground Zero
The commemoration began shortly after 3:36 a.m., recalling the exact moment a magnitude 6 earthquake struck the region, nearly erasing the historic town in the Rieti province.
Carrying torches that cast light across the town’s ground zero, a long line of residents and victims’ families walked along the new corso surrounding the civic tower—a structure that remains standing as a boundary between the old ruins and the slowly rebuilding municipality, as detailed by ANSA.
Voices in the Midnight Silence
During the midnight vigil, alternating voices at the microphone addressed the gathering.
“Per la decima volta vogliamo ancora essere qui semplicemente per dire che ci siamo, ci siamo per chi non c’è più, ci siamo per chi c’è ancora e ci siamo per questa terra che ha diritto a rinascere e a brillare di nuovo di luce propria,” participants said during the ceremony, emphasizing the community’s persistent drive to rebuild around its heritage rather than be defined solely by the tragedy.
The Toll of the 239 Victims
A Red Cross volunteer read a reflection during the procession, noting that the torches represented “il bisogno di luce nelle tenebre in cui l’evento del terremoto ha gettato questa comunità,” as reported by ANSA.
The reading preceded the reading of the names of the 239 individuals who lost their lives, each name spoken aloud in collective silence, followed by the tolling of the bell.
From Borgo Recognition to Daytime Authorities
Before the 2016 disaster, Amatrice held official recognition as one of Italy’s most beautiful borghi, drawing global renown beyond its culinary traditions. On this anniversary night, the current mayor, Giorgio Cortellesi, chose to observe the hours in silence, holding official remarks for the formal daytime schedule.
The institutional events are slated to continue later in the day. A solemn Mass scheduled for 5:00 p.m. will be celebrated by Cardinal Zuppi, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and other national authorities expected to attend, according to ANSA’s reporting.
Keep reading
