The Italian government announced that it will observe a national day of mourning on Saturday to coincide with the funeral of some of the victims which will be held in Arquata del Tronto. The village is one of the three villages that were hardest-hit by the earthquake which struck Amatrice, Accumoli and Arquata del Tronto in central Italy on Wednesday morning. 267 people died, the three above mentioned towns were badly damaged and 293 cultural landmarks were damaged as a result of the earthquake.

The President of Italy Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi will attend the funeral. Gestures of solidarity that range from donating blood or money, collecting clothes, food, games and providing survivors with meals continue to be made.

While visiting a fire brigade base near the damaged town of Arquata del Tronto, the Minister of Interior Angelino Alfano said “In the battle between man and nature, nature always wins. Let’s not be hypocrites, we are a country prone to earthquakes.”

Italians were shocked by the fact that a school in Amatrice which was renovated in 2012 in accordance with anti-seismic building regulations and standards turned to rubble on Wednesday.

Amatrice Mayor Sergio Pirozzi made an impassioned plea to his fellow townspeople for solidarity and said that the centre of the historic town which badly damaged by the earthquake “Will need to be completely rebuilt.”