Four decades on, people across Italy and beyond shared photos and memories of what has been called the nation’s “worst catastrophe”.

On the evening of November 23, 1980, a devastating earthquake hit southern Italy, killing at least 2483 people.

It lasted no more than a minute, but it changed the area forever.

The 6.9-magnitude quake destroyed dozens of villages, injured around 8000 people and left around 300,000 homeless in the southern regions of Basilicata, Campania and Puglia.

Shockwaves were felt from the southern island of Sicily to the Po Valley in the north.

Images of the aftermath shook people across Italy, and the world.

Photo: ANSA

One of the most well-known stories of the disaster is of the church in Balvano, Potenza, where 66 children and teenagers were killed when the earthquake brought down the church roof, effectively erasing a generation of the town.

Today, the rebuilt church stands as a memorial to the lost generation.

Meanwhile in Sant’Angelo dei Lombardi, Avellino, 300 people died, including 27 children in an orphanage, and 80 per cent of the town was destroyed.

Photo: ANSA

Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Monday described the Irpinia earthquake as the worst catastrophe in the history of the Italian Republic.

“Forty years have passed since the enormous tragedy caused by the earthquake that devastated Irpinia and Basilicata, also affecting part of Puglia,” he said in a statement issued on Monday.

“Nearly 3000 people died under the rubble of their homes, or as a result of the destruction of buildings.

“Many lives could not be saved due to the difficulties and delays in the rescue.”

Photo: ANSA

Reports say it took up to 48 hours for rescuers to reach some of the worst-hit villages.

“Suffering, despair, and sacrifices have continued for years on the road to reconstruction,” Mattarella said.

People from across Italy were involved in the rescue and rebuilding effort, and aid in various forms came from far and wide over the following months and years.

The Italian government initially spent 59 trillion lire on reconstruction, while other nations sent contributions.

Four decades later, some reconstruction work still stands unfinished largely due to corruption scandals.