Italy commemorated on Monday the fifth anniversary of the collapse of the Morandi Bridge of Genoa with a minute of silence and petitions for justice for the 43 people who died in what authorities say was an example of greed-driven neglect.
The Minister of Infrastructure, Matthew Salvinitold relatives of the victims, local residents and authorities at the Genoa commemoration that the victims were not victims of a flood or a natural disaster. Rather, he said, they were “victims of greed, of people who didn’t do their job“.
A huge section of the Morandi Bridge it broke during a storm on August 14, 2018, when the highways were crowded on the eve of Italy’s most important summer vacation.
Fifty-eight people were in court last year, charged with involuntary manslaughter and other charges. They include former executives and technicians from the company that ran many of Italy’s bridges and highways, as well as former Salvini ministry officials.
Prosecutors allege the defendants knew the bridge, built in the 1960s, was at risk of collapsing and that shortcuts were taken in maintenance. to save money. The bridge designer had recommended regular maintenance of the concrete span to remove rust, especially due to the corrosive effect of humid and salty air from the nearby Ligurian Sea.