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| Italy quake survivors mark Easter | |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| Makeshift altars have been set up in the Italian town of L'Aquila, to allow people made homeless by the recent earthquake to celebrate Easter. | |
| Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is due to attend Mass in L'Aquila. There will be other open-air services in surrounding villages. | |
| Some 20,000 people are living in tents in the Abruzzo region, where Monday's quake killed at least 293 people. | |
| Pope Benedict XVI is expected to refer to the tragedy in his Easter message. | |
| He offered a special prayer for survivors at Saturday's Easter eve service in St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican. | |
| 'It will help me' | 'It will help me' |
| Easter, the most important Church feast in the predominantly Roman Catholic country, will be celebrated at makeshift chapels, some inside plastic tents. | Easter, the most important Church feast in the predominantly Roman Catholic country, will be celebrated at makeshift chapels, some inside plastic tents. |
| Everybody prays... and yet Jesus Christ sends us an earthquake Francesco Pagani, survivor class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7995497.stm"> Pope leads Easter celebrations | |
| Many churches were ruined or damaged by the quake or are in areas cordoned off by the security forces as a precaution. | Many churches were ruined or damaged by the quake or are in areas cordoned off by the security forces as a precaution. |
| Carmelina Ciocca, 77, had tears in her eyes. | Carmelina Ciocca, 77, had tears in her eyes. |
| "I always used to go to church, and tomorrow I'll do the same," she said. | "I always used to go to church, and tomorrow I'll do the same," she said. |
| "It will help me feel a bit better after all this devastation." | "It will help me feel a bit better after all this devastation." |
| On Saturday, some believers went to traditional Easter eve confession in an inflatable tent fitted with an altar and a crucifix. | On Saturday, some believers went to traditional Easter eve confession in an inflatable tent fitted with an altar and a crucifix. |
| Brother Simon, a Franciscan monk, went from tent to tent giving communion to those too infirm to attend services and hearing confessions | Brother Simon, a Franciscan monk, went from tent to tent giving communion to those too infirm to attend services and hearing confessions |
| "Amid all the suffering, there's also a discovery of the most essential value for some people," the brown-robed monk told AFP news agency, chalice in hand. | "Amid all the suffering, there's also a discovery of the most essential value for some people," the brown-robed monk told AFP news agency, chalice in hand. |
| Churches like the Collemaggio Cathedral have been destroyed | |
| "But there are other people who are still too scared, still in shock." | "But there are other people who are still too scared, still in shock." |
| Some found little comfort in religion. | Some found little comfort in religion. |
| "Now the professionals of prayer are praying, saying Mass," said Francesco Pagani, an elderly survivor sitting in one of the emergency camps. | "Now the professionals of prayer are praying, saying Mass," said Francesco Pagani, an elderly survivor sitting in one of the emergency camps. |
| "Everybody prays... and yet Jesus Christ sends us an earthquake." | "Everybody prays... and yet Jesus Christ sends us an earthquake." |
| Months of uncertainty | Months of uncertainty |
| The local chief prosecutor has set up an inquiry to see if there is any criminal blame for the number of collapsed buildings. | The local chief prosecutor has set up an inquiry to see if there is any criminal blame for the number of collapsed buildings. |
| Some rescuers have spoken of the ease with which they sawed through concrete blocks and the investigation will look at whether the correct mix of sand and concrete was used in their construction. | Some rescuers have spoken of the ease with which they sawed through concrete blocks and the investigation will look at whether the correct mix of sand and concrete was used in their construction. |
| One estimate values the earthquake damage at up to 3bn euros ($4bn) but impact on Italy's economy, already hit by recession, is expected to be limited, Reuters reports. | One estimate values the earthquake damage at up to 3bn euros ($4bn) but impact on Italy's economy, already hit by recession, is expected to be limited, Reuters reports. |
| Easter eggs have been given to survivors | |
| About 40,000 people are homeless of whom some 15,000 have found shelter in hotels or private homes. | About 40,000 people are homeless of whom some 15,000 have found shelter in hotels or private homes. |
| Residents have been pleading with security forces at roadblocks to let them recover personal effects from their abandoned houses. | Residents have been pleading with security forces at roadblocks to let them recover personal effects from their abandoned houses. |
| "I just want to get some clothes, I've been wearing this tracksuit for five days now," said Melina Giandomenico, who used to live in a central street in L'Aquila where three more bodies were unearthed on Saturday. | "I just want to get some clothes, I've been wearing this tracksuit for five days now," said Melina Giandomenico, who used to live in a central street in L'Aquila where three more bodies were unearthed on Saturday. |
| The authorities have said it could be weeks, if not months, before it is known which of the houses left standing are safe enough to be repaired and which will have to be demolished. | The authorities have said it could be weeks, if not months, before it is known which of the houses left standing are safe enough to be repaired and which will have to be demolished. |
| A couple interviewed by the Associated Press news agency could not see themselves leaving their tent camp in L'Aquila for at least six months. | A couple interviewed by the Associated Press news agency could not see themselves leaving their tent camp in L'Aquila for at least six months. |
| "This would have seemed impossible before but it's the reality - life has to go on," said Giovanni Fasano, a private security guard, sharing a blue tent with his wife and four relatives, their dog tied up outside. | "This would have seemed impossible before but it's the reality - life has to go on," said Giovanni Fasano, a private security guard, sharing a blue tent with his wife and four relatives, their dog tied up outside. |
| His wife, Monia Tobia, said she did not expect to live in a real home again for three years and hoped her husband could find a job elsewhere in Italy. | His wife, Monia Tobia, said she did not expect to live in a real home again for three years and hoped her husband could find a job elsewhere in Italy. |
| Life in the tent camp was not easy, she added. There are showers but no hot water or hair dryers. | Life in the tent camp was not easy, she added. There are showers but no hot water or hair dryers. |
| "I haven't washed my hair since two days before the earthquake," she said, running her fingers through her greasy brown hair. | "I haven't washed my hair since two days before the earthquake," she said, running her fingers through her greasy brown hair. |