On the fiftieth anniversary of one of the events that marked Italy, a touching and passionate story combines the scientific chronicle of the emergency with a tribute to a resilient community.
50 years after the earthquake that devastated Friuli Venezia Giulia, theNational Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) andNational Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics - OGS they publish the story maps "That night, only one piece of news. Friuli 1976, stories of a community brought back to life.", a story in five chapters that retraces one of the strongest and most devastating seismic sequences of the second half of the twentieth century in our country.
From the audio recording of the first shock on May 6, 1976, to the data and images of the devastating impacts, up to the story of the emergency and reconstruction: the story maps integrates the information and the scientific story of the earthquake with map tour geolocalized photographs, testimonies and period reportages.
Particular attention is given to the role of the press which, after the information chaos of the very first hours, became an ally of the scientists thanks to the experimentation of a pioneering form of data journalism At the service of its citizens. The rebirth emerges from the story of the "Zamberletti Method" and the "Friuli Model," which allowed the towns to be rebuilt "where they were and how they were."
Poems recited in the Friulian dialect close the story, immersing the reader in local myths and legends, such as that of the "Orcolat" earthquake, which helped exorcise the tragedy.
“This initiative is not just a tribute to the past, but a cultural investment for the future.”, declares Salvatore Stramondo, Director of the Earthquake Department of the INGV. The Friuli sequence, with 1200 earthquakes recorded in the first year, represents a watershed moment for seismology and civil protection in Italy. Those events highlighted the need to plan interventions and develop a monitoring network. The National Seismic Network, now managed by the INGV, is the product of this growth process, initiated in those years thanks to the insights of Commissioner Zamberletti..
The Experimental Geophysical Observatory of Trieste, now the National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics (OGS), played a fundamental role in locating the main events of the sequence.
Today, the northeastern Italy seismic monitoring network represents a transnational research infrastructure managed by the OGS and supports scientific research and civil protection activities thanks to an integrated system of instrumental networks with real-time data acquisition and transmission, which complement those of the national network.
"The initiative stands out for its extensive collection and valorization of historical and journalistic sources, images, and films, selected and organized specifically for this project. This documentary heritage allows for a direct and engaging portrayal of the earthquake experience and the reconstruction phases, offering an authentic look at those events.", explains Matthew Picozzi, Director of the OGS Seismological Research Centre, established under the reconstruction law and still based in Udine. "The project represents a concrete example of collaboration between research institutions serving society, with the aim of promoting a culture of prevention based on knowledge, memory, and education, with particular attention to the new generations.", specifies Picozzi.
The story maps also include information gathering through the OGS initiative “Coming Home”, aimed at those who spent time in temporary accommodations after the powerful earthquakes of the 1976 sequence. You can participate by completing a questionnaire. The information collected will be progressively updated and displayed on a map within the story maps.
To enhance personal memories, the INGV Earthquake Department's collection of textual or multimedia contributions is also active. Through the INGVterremoti social media channels, anyone with personal or family memories can become a contributor. “Guardians of Memory” and make the first one Map of memories of Italian earthquakes.
The story maps That night, only one piece of news. Friuli 1976, stories of a community brought back to life. It is reachable at this link.
Useful links:
National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV)
National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics (OGS)
An excerpt from the storymap "That night, only one piece of news. Friuli 1976, stories of a community brought back to life."