G8 pledge to rebuild L’Aquila

Angela Merkel and Silvio Berlusconi have conducted a tour of L’Aquila’s quake-hit remains.

Chunks of masonry from damaged buildings are still evident across much of the town and authorities are still unable to give many people a clear idea of when they might be able to return home.

The lucky ones might be re-housed in September or October.

But others in the 50,000 strong tent city surrounding L’Aquila must wait until further checks are carried out to see whether their houses are inhabitable or not.

There is widespread anger and fear that nothing will be done before winter begins to bite.

Several G8 countries have pledged to pay for major reconstruction works as a gesture of solidarity.

But their promises may be too little too late for most the people who have spent three months living in tents.

299 people are known to have died in April’s earthquake.

Copyright © 2009 euronews

tags: G8 Summit, Italy