The Government initially chose to hold the funeral tonight 40 miles away from the hardest hit town Armatrice, at a hangar in Rieti Airport where the bodies are being kept in refrigerated trucks.
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It was the second state-sponsored funeral in three days.
The Italian mafia must be prevented from playing roles in the reconstruction of Central Italy following a 6.2 magnitude natural disaster that killed 290 people.
It is the second state funeral to be held for victims and the first one to take place in Amatrice – the hilltop town hit hardest by the 6.2 magnitude quake on August 24.
Despite the rescue effort, it is believed that as many as ten remain buried beneath the rubble Much of the rescue effort has been carried out by fire crews. Hundreds of people were injured.
Some two more bodies have been pulled out from the rubble of the worst-hit town Amatrice, making the death toll to 231 in the region, and 10 people were still missing in the area. There they were being kept in refrigerated big-rig trucks parked in the hangar.
Relatives placed bouquets on the coffins and sat next to them quietly.
Launched by food blogger Paolo Campana and spearheaded by Carlo Petrini, head of Slow Food, the worldwide appeal is asking all Italian restaurants to make donations for every plate served of the classic Italian pasta dish, named after the town Amatrice, one of the worst hit by Wednesday’s devastating quake.
Echoing the bishop, he insisted that Amatrice must be rebuilt where it is, and not allow a “new town” to be rebuilt nearby.
“These people died because they loved this land and we want to stay”, he said.
“To Europe, we say that we will spend whatever it takes”, said Renzi, speaking in an interview to national broadcaster Rai later in the day.
Francis led prayers for the quake victims at the Vatican on Sunday (Aug. 28) and announced plans to visit survivors in the affected area soon.
The same complex has a makeshift morgue, with about 10 corpses still inside awaiting official identification. That service was held Saturday in Ascoli Piceno, a town unscathed by the quake. Renzi, as well as Italy’s president and other officials, attended that funeral. Summer evenings require jackets there, and snow can come as early as October.
Almost 2,700 quake survivors needing shelter have been staying in 58 tent camps or at other shelters arranged by Italy’s Civil Protection agency.
Many have fled to relatives’ home, some are sleeping on a basketball court or in cars near their damaged homes.
With several farm hamlets left virtual ghost towns by the quake, police are using motorcycles to patrol the debris-clogged streets against looters.
The suspects were driving a auto with German plates and were arrested for suspected looting in Preta.
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He said he had already discussed the new plan with Italian architect Renzo Piano who told him it may take two generations – or around 50 years – to bring Italy up to the best global safety standards.
