Residents of central Italian towns that were hit by a devastating earthquake last year gathered on Thursday to hold vigils to remember the 299 people who lost their lives.
Inhabitants of Amatrice, the town most affected by the powerful quake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale, held candles as they participated in a silent procession on the outskirts, staying clear of the historic town centre, which is still covered in debris, reports Efe news.
Over the course of almost two hours, the names of those who died were read out, and memories of the 249 people killed in Amatrice shared.
A baker who lived in the town the whole year died as he was baking the day's bread, while two violin-playing brothers Leonardo and Ludovica Tulli, aged 14 and 12, went to the town every summer and died alongside their grandfather and father.
At 3.36 a.m., the time when the devastating earthquake hit, the procession arrived at Don Minozzi park, where 249 bell chimes rang out to honour each of the victims.
A white marble monument erected in memory of the dead at the entrance to the town was unveiled on Wednesday evening.
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Residents of Arquata del Tronto and Pescara del Tronto also convened in silence to remember the 48 people who died there.
A special mass would also be held in Amatrice, with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni set to attend.
--IANS
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