Italy's geologists gathered at the city of L'Aquila on the 5th April 2016 to examine new projects to help safeguard the country from future earthquakes like the one that devastated the historic Abruzzo capital and several surrounding villages in 2009.
Statistically, Italy has a major earthquake every fifteen years, commented Fabio Tortorici, President of the Foundation Study Centre of the Consiglio Nazionale dei Geologi (National Council of Geologists).
After the L'Aquila earthquake a National Plan for earthquake prevention was founded to study seismic activity and terrain stability. L'Aquila has since become an important laboratory where new methods of earthquake prediction and anti-seismic building techniques able to withstand earthquake impact are being experimented.
Fifty-five students died when their residence collapsed during the earthquake. In their memory, a group of parents launched the AVUS (Associazione Vittime Universitarie del Sisma – University Students' Victims of the Earthquake Association) Prize to involve young researchers who present proposals and plans to reduce earthquake hazards.
Info: www.geologi.it/cng www.geologiabruzzo.it abruzzoweb.it
