Virtual Earthquake Reconnaissance Team (VERT) Summary by Erica C. Fischer.
Media coverage has reported damage to the hospital in Amatrice due to the earthquake. The NY Timesreported that that the hospital had to be evacuated; however, patients were not injured.
The elementary school in Amatrice was also damaged during the earthquake. This school had a seismic retrofit in 2012. The damage to the school and other structures is the motivation behind an investigation into negligence among building owners adhering to Italy’s building codes. The school’s seismic retrofit cost 700,000 euros (about $USD785,000). No one was injured or killed due to the collapse of the elementary school as the school was in the final weeks of summer vacation.
