The government will respond to
questions raised by the Hotel Rigopiano avalanche disaster that
killed 29 people a year ago, Premier Paolo Gentiloni said Monday
while meeting victims' relatives with President Sergio
Mattarella at the presidential Quirinale Palace.
The government and the parliament that emerges from a March 4
general election will step up disaster prevention, he said.
Last Thursday Italy marked one year from the Abruzzo hotel
disaster.
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 Archbishop of Pescara-Penne Tommaso
Valentinetti celebrated mass.
Another commemoration took place 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 also took place..
The commemoration ended with the Monte Camicia choir 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 met
victims' families Monday.
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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