Italy looks into cause of high quake toll
Investigators seek evidence of fraud or negligence
AMATRICE, ITALY // Bulldozers pulled down dangerously overhanging ledges yesterday in the quake-stricken town of Amatrice as investigators worked to figure out whether negligence or fraud in building codes had added to the high death toll.
The quake that struck before dawn on Wednesday killed 290 people and injured hundreds as it flattened three medieval towns in central Italy.
Giuseppe Saieva, the prosecutor in the regional capital of Rieti, said the high death toll “cannot only be considered the work of fate”.
Investigations are focusing on a number of structures, including a primary school in Amatrice that crumbled despite being renovated in 2012 to resist earthquakes at a cost of €700,000.
No one was in the school at the time, but many were shocked that it did not withstand the 6.2 magnitude quake.
After an entire first grade class and a teacher were killed in an earthquake in San Giuliano di Puglia in 2002, Italian officials had vowed to ensure the safety of schools, hospitals and other institutions.
Questions also surrounded a bell tower in Accumoli that collapsed, killing a family of four in a neighbouring house.
The bell tower had been recently restored with special funds allocated after Italy’s last major earthquake, which struck nearby L’Aquila in 2009.
Franco Roberti, Italy’s national anti- terrorism prosecutor, pledged to prevent the mafia from infiltrating public works projects to rebuild the earthquake zone.
“This risk of infiltration is always high,” he said. “Post-earth- quake reconstruction is historically a tempting morsel for criminal groups and colluding business interests.”
Mr Roberti said although he did not wish to prejudge the outcome of the investigation into the area’s damaged buildings, the high number of public buildings to collapse in the quake raised suspicions. He said if buildings were well- constructed according to regulations for earthquake zones, “parts of buildings can be damaged and cracked but they don’t pulverize and implode”.