Archive · 20 Aug 2026
A decade after earthquake, Amatrice struggles to rebuild
A powerful earthquake struck Amatrice and nearby areas in Italy in 2016.
It destroyed many homes and historic buildings and killed 303 people.
The government promised to pay for most of the rebuilding.
Some houses have been repaired, but much of the old town is still covered by barriers and rubble.
About 1,000 people still live in temporary shelters.
Rebuilding has been slowed by paperwork, arguments over property, the COVID-19 pandemic and expensive construction materials.
Some families have moved away because they lost hope.
The mayor, Giorgio Cortellesi, wants to help rebuild, but he worries the restored town may only look like a copy of the original.
The magnitude 6.2 earthquake on August 24, 2016, killed 303 people, including 237 in Amatrice.
Much of Amatrice’s historic centre and surrounding areas were destroyed, leaving several thousand people homeless.
The state has approved €22.7 billion in reconstruction projects across the disaster zone and paid about €10 billion.
Only 38% of Amatrice’s damaged properties have been restored, while about 1,000 residents remain in prefabricated shelters.
Bureaucracy, legal disputes, COVID-19 disruptions, labor shortages and rising material costs have slowed reconstruction.
- Who
- Amatrice residents, Mayor Giorgio Cortellesi, survivors and Italian reconstruction authorities.
- What
- Amatrice is still struggling to rebuild after a devastating earthquake destroyed much of the town.
- When
- The earthquake struck on August 24, 2016; reconstruction remains incomplete a decade later.
- Where
- Amatrice, in central Italy, and other parts of the earthquake disaster zone.
- Why
- Rebuilding has been delayed by bureaucracy, legal disputes, property claims, the COVID-19 pandemic, labor shortages and higher construction costs.
Recreate Amatrice’s historic character
Build a modern town
Town design
Recreate Amatrice’s historic character
The reconstruction plan largely seeks to recreate Amatrice on its original site and in its former image.
Build a modern town
Mayor Giorgio Cortellesi says he would have redesigned the town in a modern way after the earthquake destroyed much of the original medieval masonry, but believes it is now too late.
- Earthquake magnitude
- 6.2
- Earthquake date
- August 24, 2016
- Total deaths
- 303 people
- Deaths in Amatrice
- 237 people
- Restored damaged properties
- 38% in Amatrice
- Residents in temporary shelters
- About 1,000, roughly 60% of the population
- Approved reconstruction projects
- €22.7 billion across the disaster zone
- Paid reconstruction funding
- About €10 billion