Amatrice (Rieti), August 24, 2026 – The Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, landed by helicopter in Amatrice at 16:38, on the tenth anniversary of the earthquake that in 2016 devastated Central Italy causing 299 victims.
Applause for the arrival of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
The Prime Minister participates in the laying of the wreath at don Minozzi park, before the Holy Mass at the sports field, officiated by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi. No whistles as happened in Taranto, but applause for the arrival of the Prime Minister.
The moods are mixed, but the many Amatrice residents present show appreciation for the Prime Minister’s visit. “Giorgia is untouchable,” says Maria Franca Di Stefano present with her daughter and granddaughter. “I returned to my home three years ago, the Prime Minister is with us.”
Fewer smiles for those still living in the earthquake houses: “We hope this visit helps to give momentum because the reconstruction is still too slow. We are crawling,” says a woman.
The celebration in Arquata del Tronto (photo)
Zuppi: “We carry in our hearts the wounds of that tragedy”
Already this morning, during the service in the Sae area of Pescara del Tronto, the president of the Italian Episcopal Conference had used strong words: “We too feel the weight of these long years, we carry in our hearts the wounds of that tragedy. Added to this is the condition of the internal areas of our entire country.”
Many authorities present at the commemoration
In Amatrice there are numerous authorities: the special commissioner Guido Castelli, ministers Andrea Abodi and Gianmarco Mazzi, and the governors of the affected regions — Francesco Rocca (Lazio), Stefania Proietti (Umbria), Francesco Acquaroli (Marche) and Marco Marsilio (Abruzzo) — together with entrepreneur Diego Della Valle and the mayors of the crater.
Mattarella’s message: “Reconstruction must be completed quickly”
In the morning, the message from the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, had also arrived: “Recovery is a complex process that needs to be completed as soon as possible. It is a call to collective responsibility to restore the broken normality.”
