Earthquake, solemn funerals at Ascoli. Bishop: “I asked God, ‘and now Lord what?’” – The Republic

Rome – Thirty-five equal lined coffins, two smaller, children, and an altar set up in the municipal gymnasium of Monticelli Ascoli. Inside it is very hot, there are relatives, friends, wreaths, mayors and urban districts. Those who have lost someone is sitting next to coffins, people embrace each other, trying to get air with fans and hands, someone feels bad and is brought out.

For the solemn funeral of the Marche earthquake victims the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella comes after visiting amateur and Accumoli. Between the benches there are also the premier Matteo Renzi with his wife Agnese Landini, Senate President Pietro Grasso, the Chamber Laura Boldrini, and vice President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli. Just walked into the gym, the mayor of Massimo Cialente seeking the mayor of Arquata del Tronto Leandro Petrucc i. They look just a moment, then shaking, hugging long.
” ‘And now, Lord, what?’ How many times, in the silence of my restless nights of vigil and waiting, I directed to God the same question that I heard repeated by you in these days, “says the Bishop of Ascoli Piceno Monsignor Giovanni D’Ercole celebrant funeral. “In my name, the name of this our people betrayed by dancing destroyer of the earth: ‘and what now?’ I turned to God the Father, stirred by anguish, dall’avvilimento humans robbed their last hope. “

Then caters to all sorts of affected countries, “q his is the greeting that our community gives to the 35 victims here but also to the others. our thoughts go out to Accumoli and Amatrice, because we are one and the same big family,” says the bishop of Ascoli Piceno . “Do not be afraid to shout your suffering, but do not lose courage. Together we will rebuild our homes and churches, together will restore life to our communities, starting from our traditions and from the rubble of death”. Then remember the two sisters Giulia and Giorgia: “Only Georgia has survived. Death and life were embraced.” Finally, one after another, have been scanned the names of the victims.

The visit in the affected countries. Accompanied by the president of the Lazio Region Nicola Zingaretti, Mattarella arrived in Amatrice by helicopter, landing just outside the town, at 8:32. Then he walked on foot through the streets, with Mayor Sergio Pirozzi next to show the remains of a country that no longer exists. Together they went to the operations center, the rescuers the head of state said: “Thank you for what you do.” It is our prime duty, they have responded.

Then the tent cities, where Mattarella met the children, first of all. And there has ensured the reconstruction immediately. “We hope that we will remember – tell the people for three days living under tendoni-, we do not want to do the Eagle end where they are still at the starting point. Amatrice will not be the same as before but we want to start over, from the words you steps to the facts. ” As he walked back to the helicopter and go to Accumoli, in the other tent cities, the president has embraced an elderly woman trying to cheer her up.

It continues to dig . Under the Rome hotel debris were found the bodies of three more victims of Amatrice, only today have been extracted lifeless six people. The total budget of the earthquake which hit Marche and Lazio rises to 290 (230 in the only town of Lazio). Luca Cari, spokesman for the fire department does not stop: “The searches are not over yet.”

And even the shock . This morning at 4.50 the earth shook again. An earthquake of 4.0 Richter degree, was recorded in the area of ​​Castelluccio di Norcia, in Perugia, and Montegallo, nell’ascolano. Hypocenter at a depth of 8 km. This was announced by the INGV. “There were 1,332 shook the beginning of the earthquake,” says the deputy head of the Civil Protection Angelo Borrelli. THE DIRECT

the national mourning , proclaimed for the whole day, expected to be adopted in some institutional procedures, based on a precise ceremonial. The flags of the public buildings are placed at half mast as shown in the Prime Minister’s Office, without the discipline of military flags. The flags are on display in darkened with two strips of black veil to tie.