Emergency workers are continuing to work their way through the ruins of a school in southern Italy which collapsed in an earthquake, but correspondents say they do not expect to find anyone alive. Posted on 11/01/2002 6:43:24 AM PST by NYer
Emergency workers are continuing to work their way through the ruins of a school in southern Italy which collapsed in an earthquake, but correspondents say they do not expect to find anyone alive.
Three bodies are believed to remain under the rubble in San Giuliano di Puglia, more than 24 hours after the earthquake which was the worst to hit Italy for five years.
At least 26 children - including an entire class of six-year-olds - and two women are now known to have died.
Correspondents say the village has been stunned by the tragedy, but angry questions are being asked about why the school opened when others in the area stayed closed amid fears of a quake, and why the newly modernised school building was destroyed when others nearby were not.
Voices which had been heard in the rubble have fallen silent and specialist equipment can no longer detect body heat, rescuers said.
Families watching the teams who have worked through the night have cheered when survivors have been found - including two boys found in the early hours of the morning.
But as dawn came, hopes faded. A civil protection officer, Ernesto Angelotti, told the Reuters news agency: "There's no noise.
"There are no readings from the heat detectors. The bulldozers are moving in and now, I am afraid, there is very little hope."
The BBC's David Willey said he had seen 26 small white coffins in the school's gym which has been turned into a makeshift mortuary for the medieval town.
The families of the dead children sat with the coffins, holding on to favourites toys, clothing and photographs.
Elsewhere, some of the 34 people rescued alive from the school continued to be treated for serious injuries in hospital.
In Rome, the Pope said a "heartfelt prayer" for the victims.
Our correspondent said the grief in San Giuliano was overpowering with a stunned calm having replaced the shrieks and wails which accompanied the desperate search for survivors throughout the night.
But questions about why the tragedy struck are beginning to be asked.
The school - the most badly damaged building in the village - was constructed nearly 50 years ago and had a concrete second floor added recently.
It collapsed but other buildings - some of them hundreds of years old - stayed standing during Thursday's quake, which measured 5.4 on the Richter scale.
Attention is focussing on building standards, and whether the school should have opened after earlier, smaller, quakes were felt.
Italy has declared a state of emergency to ensure funding is swiftly available and to allow army participation in the rescue and recovery operations in the Molise region, where some 3,000 people have lost their homes.
Widespread damage
In the town of Campobasso, cracks gaped in walls and chunks of plaster fell from ceilings, sending people running into the streets.
A major highway bridge was damaged, a railway line was closed after a viaduct was damaged and many power and phone lines were put out of action.
Seismologists had already been monitoring the region after this week's eruption of Mount Etna in Sicily, Europe's biggest active volcano.
A quake also hit Mount Etna on Thursday, measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale. It did not appear to be connected with the tremor hitting southern Italy.
Italy has a long history of earthquakes but is continually being taken off-guard by them as the faults are hidden and difficult to observe.
Today is All Souls Day in the catholic religion, a day when we pray for the dead. Please remember these childern in your prayers today.
I heard on the news this morning that the school building was built around fifty years ago, but that there had been an addition (more floors?) done last year. It was the addition that collapsed apparently. Hopefully someone will look into whether that construction was up to par.
After the tears, anger set in to see an aerial view of the area. This 'newly renovated' school is the only building that is totally collapsed. Damn it.
On this Holy Day of obligation, I hope Catholics the world over keep these families and the priest of this town very much in their prayers.
Today is All Saints Day, tomorrow is All Souls Day, otherwise thanks for a good article.
I was stationed and lived in the Naples area for four years. The construction techniques throughout Southern Italy are quite different from what we in the USA are used to seeing.
I thought Southern Italy was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been... (that includes both the landscape AND the people). But, the region does suffer from a severe lack of wood for constuction (as used in framing). They rely on concrete frame, cut stone walls (without morter), and steel-framed tile flooring. ...Not the most flexible materials in a region prone to earthquakes.
May God heal the wounds of these families quickly. May all the dearly departed rest in peace.
Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison. Christe eleison. Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison.
Agios o theos, Agios ischyros, Agios athanatos, eleison imas.
Sanctus Deus, Sanctus fortis, Sanctus immortalis, miserere nobis
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.
Have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Why did the most *modern* building fail? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
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