Key facts
- A 6.2-magnitude earthquake in 2016 devastated Amatrice, Italy, killing 237 residents and destroying the historic center.
- Reconstruction efforts are ongoing, with 38% of damaged properties in Amatrice restored.
- Many residents (around 60%) still live in temporary prefabricated shelters.
- Bureaucracy, legal disputes, and the 'Superbonus' scheme have significantly delayed rebuilding.
- The mayor questions the decision to largely recreate the town in its former image, suggesting a modern redesign was missed.
Ten years after a devastating 6.2-magnitude earthquake leveled the central Italian town of Amatrice, killing 237 people and leaving thousands homeless, the reconstruction process remains slow and fraught with challenges. Mayor Giorgio Cortellesi, a survivor who lost his children's grandparents in the disaster, is working to fulfill his pledge to rebuild the town, but faces significant hurdles.
The state has committed substantial funds, approving €22.7 billion for reconstruction projects across the affected region, with €10 billion already disbursed. In Amatrice itself, 38% of damaged properties have been restored, and construction activity has increased notably in the past year. However, much of the historic center remains behind barriers, and only a fraction of the structures destroyed in 2016 have been rebuilt.
Many residents, approximately 60% of the population or about 1,000 people, continue to live in small, prefabricated shelters. The slow pace of rebuilding is attributed to a complex web of issues, including bureaucratic red tape, legal disputes, unresolved property claims, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Italy's "Superbonus" renovation scheme, intended to stimulate the economy, is cited as a major disruptor, driving up material costs and diverting labor to more lucrative projects elsewhere.
Rebuilding densely populated medieval neighborhoods has been further complicated by issues such as multiple property owners, inheritance disputes, and unresolved claims, turning every planning application into a legal challenge. Officials also cite fears of mafia interference in contract adjudications as a factor that has prolonged project timelines.
For some survivors, the struggle extends beyond the physical reconstruction. Daniele Bonanni, who lost several family members, chose to stay in Amatrice and runs a restaurant in a food village established for displaced businesses. He notes that while people once returned for summers, they now only visit for lunch, indicating a weakening generational bond with the town.
Siblings Alfredo and Elisabetta Perilli exemplify the financial and emotional toll. Alfredo is still obligated to pay a mortgage on his house, which no longer exists, while both lost their family restaurant and hotel. Their land is currently being used as an access route for hospital reconstruction, preventing them from submitting their own rebuilding plans. Elisabetta fears she will lose the strength to rebuild if delays persist.
Mayor Cortellesi reflects on the decisions made post-earthquake, questioning whether rebuilding the town largely in its original image was the right choice. He acknowledges that much of the medieval structure is gone, resulting in a "facsimile," and expresses a personal view that a modern redesign might have been more fitting given the complete destruction.