“L'urlo dell'Orcolat”: a comic book in memory of the 1976 Friuli earthquake

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Friuli earthquake, the Civil Protection Department and the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region are launching a special edition of the comic book series “L’attimo decisivo - The decisive moment” aimed at lower secondary schools in the region. ““L’urlo dell’Orcolat – The Orcolat’s roar” offers an original retelling of the May 6, 1976 earthquake, blending the language of comics with Friulian folk traditions and historical photographic documentation from the period. The result is an accessible and engaging narrative that helps students connect with the region’s seismic history while fostering greater awareness of natural hazards and risk prevention.

The main character and narrator is the Orcolat, a legendary figure from Friulian folk traditions: a colossal rocky giant said to shake the mountains, spreading fear and destruction. Through his voice, the reader is guided across the events as his true nature gradually unfolds. His journey ultimately leads to an encounter with one of his greatest “antagonists,” Giuseppe Zamberletti, a pivotal figure in the management of the emergency and the reconstruction efforts whose vision and experience would later help shape the modern Italian Civil Protection system.
The comic is also an educational tool designed to support teachers in civic education, history, and natural science classes and to promote, on the anniversary of the earthquake, group readings to stimulate classroom discussion on key issues such as historical memory, seismic risk, and the behaviors to adopt to prevent or reduce the effects of an earthquake.

“L'urlo dell'Orcolat - The Orcolat's roar” is also the first issue of the new series “L'Equazione racconta - Stories from the Equation”, a spin-off of the multidisciplinary project “L'attimo decisivo - The decisive moment”, which will focus on the key events in the Italian civil protection history.

“The decisive moment” is produced by the Civil Protection Department and promoted by the Minister for Civil Protection and Maritime Policies, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Merit, to bring civil protection into schools.

All comic books and materials are available at www.attimodecisivo.gov.it/en.