One year after an
avalanche destroyed the Rigopiano Hotel in the Abruzzo village
of Farindola killing 29 people, events were organized throughout
Italy Thursday to commemorate the victims.
The day started with a ceremony during which a wreath of
flowers was placed at the entrance of what is left of the
resort, in the presence of the victims' families, authorities
and local residents.
Events promoted by the committee representing victims'
families also included a torchlight procession to the local
church, where the Archbishops of Pescara-Penne Tommaso
Valentinetti is scheduled to celebrate mass.
Another commemoration will take place at 2:30 pm at the
sports center of Pecce, where rescuers were based a year ago.
Poetry readings and a concert with tenor Piero Mazzocchetti
and the Claudio Monteverdi Youth Orchestra are scheduled later
in the afternoon.
The commemoration will end at 6 pm with the chorus Monte
Camicia and artists from the group "Le stanze di Federico &
Friends" who have recorded a song called 'Dove la neve non
cade', or where the snow doesn't fall.
President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Paolo Gentiloni are
scheduled to meet with the victims' families next Monday,
sources said Thursday.
On January 18 last year an avalanche hit the resort as 40
people, including guests and staff, were inside, while the
region was grappling with extreme weather conditions and the
hotel was engulfed by snow.
Some of the 29 victims were instantly crushed to death while
others who remained trapped died of hypothermia and
asphyxiation.
Prosecutors are investigating a total of 23 people over
delays prior to the incident in cleaning out the only road
connecting the hotel to town and in subsequently getting help
quickly.
Investigators suspect that local authorities had not taken
seriously calls for help from two people who escaped the hotel.
Rescuers reached the site several hours after the incident
and had to travel on foot because roads had been blocked by
heavy snow.
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