From Barbary Coast

[ihkelele]

I'm mad. MAD with anger and grief.
Last week we were told - by official sources- there was nothing worrying going on in Abruzzo, where increasing seismic phenomena were experienced since December.
The telly showed damaged buildings,  ceiling fragments weighing up to 2-3 pounds fallen inside classrooms  - but everybody knows - they said - that's an

Comments

[duniazade]

I'm so very sorry for what has happened, but I'm so relieved to hear from you. I do hope no family or friend of yours have been affected.

*hugs*

[ihkelele]

Thank you so much. I live in Piacenza, which is some 500 kms distant, and had no idea until mid morning.
I am worried for a friend, but at the moment it's impossible to get in touch with the area (traffic jam, not a real break, they say.)

I'm listening to independent sources (as you probably know, here it means "no TV") and they seem to agree on the fact that the most damaged buildings are those built in the 60s-70s. As usual. In particular, public buildings: schools, hostels, "new" public offices. As usual. Since the Irpinia catastrophe of 1980 we have laws and regulations. I understand that the Caracalla Thermae can be damaged, but a NEW kindergarten and the NEW, 4-storey University hall of residence have collapsed: there's no excuse for this.

*hugs*

[firefly124]

Like duniazade, I'm both horrified at the whole thing and very relieved to hear from you. {{hugs}}

And it sucks that they dismissed such advance warnings. It seems to be a universal phenomenon for governments to prefer to stick their heads in the sand until something has already happened, and sometimes even then. :-(

[ihkelele]

Yes, it sucks. When I think of Katrina I feel - well, not better but 'less ashamed.'
To think that until the other day the top news was a planned decree allowing unverified expansions up to 20% to existing buildings...
Thanks for the hugs. I'm alone until at least tomorrow, and I feel like cuddling right now :-*

[grrangerous]

You are eloquent in your rage. In such situations fury is the only sane response.

I hadn't heard about the stupidaggine of Bertolaso; it's heartbreaking to know that something might have been done to save lives.

Thanks for posting.

[ihkelele]

Thank you!
(and compliments for your perfect Italian :) )
BTW I don't think Bertolaso is stupid. He is an M.D. by education, so he was probably misguided by "experts" in the national committee.
Yet, he is the same man who used to whine about the 'garbage disaster' in Naples (and let Neapolitans rot away) for 2 months before last year's elections, then made the hills of waste vanish in one week after said elections. Therefore, I'm not particularly trusty :/

... and as usual after earthquakes, it has begun to rain. Hard. At 700 m altitude :(

[ihkelele]

Thank you. You flisters are wonderful :)

[camillo1978]

I'm so sorry! Can imagine how angry you must be.

[ihkelele]

A little less angry now. Venting is a great thing :)
Thank you all for bearing with me. BTW, Agent78's relatives are not from the area, are they? o.O

[camillo1978]

Isn't it?

No, they're in Rimini, Rome and down in Brindisi. They might have felt it in Rimini, but not bad enough for damage.