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It was the wee hours of Monday morning (6 April 2009) when residents of L’Aquila, Italy were struck by one of nature’s deadliest disasters — an earthquake measuring 6.3 in the Richter scale. At present, fatality is estimated at over 150 while the wounded numbered around 1,500. The quake also left tens of thousands homeless.

The 6.3-magnitude earthquake likewise buckled both ancient and modern buildings in and around L’Aquila which was nested in a valley surrounded by the snowcapped Apennines’ tallest peaks. Centuries-old castles and churches dating back from the Middle Ages were not spared by the catastrophe.

The quake was followed by a series of aftershocks that continued until Tuesday morning. Rescue workers and firefighters were often forced to retreat when aftershocks rocked the collapsed buildings they were working on. Most of the time, the crew demanded complete silence to be able to listen to sounds of life from within the debris. Read the rest of this entry »