'A trauma I will never overcome'. Ten years on, we speak with L'Aquila quake survivor

The 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck the central region of Abruzzo on April 6, 2009 killed 309 people, left 70,000 homeless and destroyed much of the historic city of L'Aquila. Ten years on, we spoke with a survivor from the quake and a Red Cross volunteer who helped with the recovery efforts.

Colored sheets hang on a clothes-line amid collapsed buildings in the town of Onna, near L'Aquila. (April 6, 2009 file photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Source: AP

L'Aquila hosted a torchlight procession in memory of the 309 victims of the earthquake that devastated the city on 6 April 2009, causing also building collapses and thousands of displaced residents.

Today we asked our listeners: 'What are your memories from the quake? Were you in Abruzzo that day or do you have any relatives or friends who were caught in the tragedy?'

Gino from Melbourne was living in L'Aquila the night the quake struck. He says it was a trauma he 'will never overcome'. 

Federico worked as a volunteer for the Red Cross in the aftermath of the quake and described their efforts to support and comfort distraught survivors who had lost everything and were living in a 'city of tents'. 

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