By AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE, Visso, Italy, Oct 27 – Italy on Thursday vowed to rebuild every home destroyed after two powerful earthquakes that forced thousands to flee in terror but “miraculously” did not cause any fatalities.
Two months after tremors in the same area left nearly 300 dead, the twin quakes ripped through a mountainous, sparsely-populated part of central Italy on Wednesday evening.
Despite numerous building collapses, no deaths were reported in the aftermath of the 5.5 and 6.1 magnitude
“Given the strength of the shocks, the absence of any deaths or serious injuries is miraculous,” Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said, while Prime Minister Matteo Renzi headed to the scene to help oversee rescue efforts.
At least 4,000 people will not be able to return to their homes in the immediate term, according to civil protection officials.
The government announced the release of 40 million euros ($44 million) and extended a state of emergency declared after the deadly August quake.
“We will rebuild everything, 100 percent, that is the government’s commitment,” said Vasco Errani, the reconstruction supremo appointed after the August disaster.
More than 200 aftershocks rattled the area through the night and into Thursday after the initial two were felt in Rome, some 175 kilometres (110 miles) away from the epicentres.
Many people spent Wednesday night in their cars, battered by driving rain. The sun came out on Thursday, but the scale of the task will only become clear in days and weeks to come.
Marco Rinaldi, mayor of the village of Ussita, described “apocalyptic” scenes. “People were in the streets screaming. Many houses have collapsed. Our town is finished,” he said.
“I’ve felt a lot of earthquakes but that was the strongest I’ve ever felt. Fortunately everyone had already left their homes after the first quake so I don’t think anyone was hurt.”