Haunting drone footage shows towns destroyed by Italy's earthquakes blanketed in snow as polar front sweeps over country

Haunting drone footage has been released of Amatrice, the hill-top town worst hit by Italy’s earthquake last summer, blanketed in snow. Amatrice, which was reduced to rubble by the powerful earthquake of August 24, was turned white after a polar front of bad weather brought freezing temperatures to much of Italy. The snow and cold conditions have hampered ongoing efforts to secure the few buildings that remain standing and clear the rubble from those that collapsed.


The drone footage was taken by Italy’s fire service, which was heavily involved in the initial search and rescue efforts. The August earthquake killed 297 people and injured dozens of others. Other towns and villages hit by the large earthquake, such as Accumoli, have also been covered in snow as Italy shivers in the first real blast of winter weather. “This is the coldest weather we’ve had for 20 years,” said Edoardo Ferrara, a meteorologist. Temperatures plunged to -23C in the mountains of the Dolomites, in the north-east of the country, and snow covered the summit of Mt Vesuvius near Naples as well as beaches along the Adriatic coast. Pope Francis made a surprise visit Amatrice in October, a few weeks after the Aug 24 quake reduced much of the town to rubble and dust. Pope Francis made a surprise visit Amatrice in October, a few weeks after the Aug 24 quake reduced much of the town to rubble and dust. Credit: Osservatore Romano/AFP “Last year the ski lifts remained closed because of the lack of snow, but this year is very different,” said Mauro Falcucci, the mayor of the town of Castelsantangelo, also affected by the multiple quakes and tremors that hit Italy between August and October. On Thursday at the Vatican, Pope Francis greeted several thousand people who were affected by Italy’s multiple earthquakes. “The wounds will heal but scars will remain,” he told them. He praised parish priests who had helped people made homeless by the quakes. "I am proud of the priests who did not abandon their lands, pastors who did not flee when they saw the wolf," Pope Francis said. "Only hope can rebuild.” A man stands among the rubble of a house the day after an earthquake struck Amatrice A man stands among the rubble of a house the day after an earthquake struck Amatrice Credit: FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP Priests slept in cars and then in hastily-erected tents along with survivors of the tremors. “We live together, we eat together. We have shared the people’s suffering,” said Father Luciano Avenati, a priest whose parish was badly affected. Dozens of ancient churches had been destroyed by the earthquakes, including one built in the fifth century AD, he said. It was vital to start rebuilding communities quickly, “before people decide not to come back.” On Sunday, in the Sistine Chapel in Rome, Pope Francis will baptise eight babies who were born recently in Amatrice. He made a surprise visit to Amatrice in October to see for himself the damage that had been done and to pray for survivors and those killed and injured.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/06/haunting-drone-footage-shows-towns-destroyed-italys-earthquakes/