On the night of 14-15 January 1968, the strongest post-war earthquake in Italy occurred. The earthquake struck the entire Belice Valley in western Sicily, between the city of Palermo, Trapani and Agrigento. Many towns were razed to the ground, including Gibellina, the epicentre. The losses were numerous, as were the injured.The entire building and rural heritage was destroyed, thousands of families lost their homes - many of which were made of tuff - and the restoration of these areas took decades. The event highlighted the state's logistical unpreparedness for this type of disaster.
On the night of 14-15 January 1968, the strongest post-war earthquake in Italy occurred. The earthquake struck the entire Belice Valley in western Sicily, between the city of Palermo, Trapani and Agrigento. Many towns were razed to the ground, including Gibellina, the epicentre. The losses were numerous, as were the injured.The entire building and rural heritage was destroyed, thousands of families lost their homes - many of which were made of tuff - and the restoration of these areas took decades. The event highlighted the state's logistical unpreparedness for this type of disaster.