CGP Hazardous Setting Case Study

• Central Italy has a High Risk of Earthquakes
• 6.3 magnitude earthquake

  Struck L'Aquila in April 2009
• A series of earthquakes


  Hit the area around Amatrice from August to October 2016
• The L'Aquila earthquake was caused by movement along the north-south fault lined
• L'Aquila earthquake

  • Killed around 300 people
  • Made about 70 000 people homeless
  • Cost Italy an estimated US $15 billion
• Before 2009, L'Aquila hadn't suffered from a major earthquake for 300 years


  The risks were known and some steps were taken to mitigate hazards
• There were strict building regulations to ensure the newer buildings were designed and built to withstand earthquakes
• Much of the city was very old, and some newer buildings didn't comply with regulations, so they were severely damaged or destroyed by the earthquake
• Character of L'Aquila


  • Many historic buildings in the city centre were destroyed
  • People were rehoused in newly built earthquake-resistant homes in suburban areas or in new towns outside the City
  • Many younger people left the area to look for jobs elsewhere
• Attendance at social and religious activities has declined - eg around 1000 people attended a Good Friday procession in 2014, compared with around 30-000 before the earthquake
• People are reluctant to use the shops, bars and restaurants that were rebuilt in the town centre, and many have closed down
• Some residents suffer from mental health issues as a result of the earthquake, and fear of more earthquakes occurring
• University buildings in L'Aquila were badly damaged, making them uninhabitable. The number of students enrolling decreased, which caused a major economic loss for the city
• The Italian government plans to reconstruct the area to be economically stronger than before the disaster for example by making the city more attractive to students
• Officials and scientists have been blamed for not giving the public adequate warning about the earthquake risk. This has led to tension between residents and officials
• The government has also been blamed for not rebuilding L'Aquila quickly enough or involving residents in decisions about how it would be rebuilt. This added to residents' feelings of discontent and lack of support
• Some residents of Pescomaggiore, a village to the east of L'Aquila, worked with professional builders to create new earthquake-resistant homes using wood and straw, with solar panels to decrease reliance on mains power
• L'Aquila earthquake? L'Killer more like...: 'The L'Aquila earthquake killed hundreds of people and had profound physical and psychological effects on thousands more'