The local government of L’Aquila headed by Mayor Massimo Cialente requested for assistance from the Department of Civil Protection of the Italian government in a telegram 5 days before the devastating April 6 earthquake that caused the death of 295 people.
The telegram contained the report on the continuing earth tremors in the city months before the tragedy and the poor condition of some buildings.
“In relation to serious seismic events whose start dates back to January 16 last, in the form of daily earthquake jolts of about two hundred or more to date, culminating with a fourth-degree earthquake on 30 March, an urgent request for approval of funds for the initial emergency,” reads the telegram of April 1. The text adds, “Further request the declaration of emergency in order to make the necessary interventions for the restoration of the adequacy of public and private buildings, particularly serious structural damage in two school buildings housing 500 students.”
The March 30 earthquake already saw people temporarily evacuating some buildings.
Italian authorities have issued a list of 49 municipalities affected by the earthquake, which include not only areas of the province of L’Aquila, but also in the province of Teramo and Pescara, both in Abruzzo. The Pope has announced that it will visit the area on April 28.
Via PRENSA LATINA
