National mourning and state funerals, tonight at 18pm in Amatrice, for the victims of the earthquake that killed 231 people in the Lazio town while 292 are currently the total victims in the various areas affected by the August 24 tremors. Preparations are underway to welcome relatives, friends and personalities despite the difficulties of connection. The ceremony will be attended by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and the President of the Lazio Region Zingaretti will also be there.
The decision to move the funeral to Rieti, which is easier to reach, had provoked protests from the inhabitants and so Renzi decided to listen to their requests and brought the funeral back to Amatrice.
In these hours the construction of the tensile structure that will host the ceremony for everyone is underway - specified the Civil Protection - even if it is then up to the families to choose whether to attend or opt for the private formula, which some have already done by holding the funeral in Rome. At the moment, 37 bodies are expected.
A wave of bad weather could be looming over the ceremony. Heavy rains are in fact expected on Tuesday afternoon in the areas hit by the earthquake
