Ponte Morandi, the commemoration of the 43 victims 4 years after the tragedy

A minute of silence at 11.36 in Genoa marked the fourth anniversary of the tragedy of 14 August 2018 which caused 43 victims, 11 injured and 566 displaced: the collapse of the Morandi bridge. 

With the Mass officiated by the archbishop of Genoa Marco Tasca, in memory of the victims and their families, the ceremonies for the commemoration of the collapse of the viaduct over the Polcevera stream which collapsed at 11:36 am on 14 August four years ago began.

The mass was attended, among others, by the Minister of Infrastructures Enrico Giovannini, the mayor Marco Bucci and the secretary of the Lega Matteo Salvini. 

Then began the ceremony for the remembrance of the tragedy at the Clearing of Memory, under the new Ponte San Giorgio where, in addition to the minister, the president of the Committee for the remembrance of the victims of Morandi, Egle Possetti, the mayor Bucci, the imam, spoke. the governor Toti.

The ceremony began with the video projection of the names of the 43 victims on August 14, 2018.

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Commemoration of the collapse of the Morandi bridge, Genoa

The words of Sergio Mattarella

"On the fourth anniversary of the collapse of the Morandi Bridge, the pain of the tragedy that struck forty-three victims is renewed. A wound that cannot be healed, a suffering that knows no oblivion, a solidarity that never fails. A drama that marks life of the Republic and for which the judiciary is dutifully ascertaining the responsibilities. I renew first of all to family members, forced to suffer the greatest pain, the most intense solidarity of our national community ".

These are the statements of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella.

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- continues Mattarella - The action carried out by the committee of the victims' families was precious, a real living memorial of the tragedy, pending the realization of the memorial proposed as a permanent warning ".

"The pain of this terrible anniversary is associated with a conviction: the state must do everything possible so that similar tragedies never happen again"

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Prime Minister Mario Draghi says this in a message sent to the mayor Marco Bucci on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the collapse of Ponte Morandi.

We must guarantee the safety of our infrastructures, protect the lives of citizens.

The credibility of Italy and the institutions is at stake ".

"On the fourth anniversary of the collapse of the Morandi Bridge. I want to renew the Government and my personal closeness to the relatives of the victims, to the wounded, to all Genoese", writes Draghi in his message.

"During my visit to Genoa I saw a strong and united city, which does not forget the past and looks to the future with courage. The rapid construction of the new San Giorgio bridge is an extraordinary example of collaboration and concreteness, a model for the whole Italy. I want to thank once again the mayor Marco Bucci and the whole commissioner structure, the local authorities, in particular the president of the Region Giovanni Toti, Senator Renzo Piano and all those who have been involved in this project ", concludes the president of the Advise 

The anger of the victims' families: years of shame

"By dint of observing minutes of silence, we have put together years of shame. Enough: let's make light and open the windows on this country. Politics become truly activity for the polis and for our land".

The words chosen by

, which brings together the relatives of the 43 who lost their lives in the disaster.

Possetti spoke during the commemoration ceremony.

"In recent years we have never felt pride and the perception of change. There has been no tremor, no upheaval. The definitive sale of Aspi has resulted in a high remuneration for those responsible for this tragedy. The way to a contractual cancellation. it was the right one. No restyling erases the mud. The media should have been inclement to them, "Possetti said.

"We have handed over eight billion euros into the hands of these shareholders - he recalled - We must have the strength and tenacity to go further, we cannot collapse like that poor mistreated bridge that lasted 5 years after the risk of its collapse.

We have had assurances about the realization of the Memorial and at least we want to have confidence in this.

Our State - added Possetti - has a lot to be forgiven.

The signing of concession contracts that a kindergarten child would not sign.

Our bill is lost in the maze of the government crisis.

We hope that the next parliament will take care of it. "Possetti, who lost his sister, brother-in-law and two grandchildren in the disaster, then remarked:" We are disillusioned, but we hope that someone will surprise us ".

Our bill is lost in the maze of the government crisis.

We hope that the next parliament will take care of it. "Possetti, who lost his sister, brother-in-law and two grandchildren in the disaster, then remarked:" We are disillusioned, but we hope that someone will surprise us ".

Our bill is lost in the maze of the government crisis.

We hope that the next parliament will take care of it. "Possetti, who lost his sister, brother-in-law and two grandchildren in the disaster, then remarked:" We are disillusioned, but we hope that someone will surprise us ". 

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Genoa, the Morandi bridge

The tragedy of the Morandi Bridge

On 14 August 2018 at 11.36, under a strong storm, a forestay gave way, an incredible roar during the storm marked the city forever.

A part of the bridge had collapsed taking with it cars and trucks with a jump of 45 meters in height.

Among the victims also two workers of an ecological island who ended up overwhelmed by the rubble.

The Conte government after a few months passed the "Genoa decree" with numerous simplifications to the rules for reconstruction. 

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The new bridge in Genoa

Work begins.

On June 28, 2019, the piles left standing after the dismantling of the rest of the structure were knocked down with an explosion. 

The new Genova San Giorgio viaduct was inaugurated on 3 August 2020 in the presence of the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella.

Renzo Piano's project cost 450 million, all paid for by Aspi.

The process

The trial that has just started today sees 59 people accused (including former top management and technicians of Autostrade and Spea, a company that dealt with maintenance and inspections, current and former managers of the Ministry of Infrastructure and officials of the Superintendency) and 600 civil parties.

The alleged crimes are multiple manslaughter, road homicide, willful collapse, omission of official acts, attack on transport safety, forgery and willful omission of safety devices in the workplace.

For prosecutors Massimo Terrile and Walter Cotugno, many of the defendants knew that the bridge could collapse but did nothing to prevent it.

According to defense lawyers, the bridge collapsed due to a construction defect. 

The first court hearing took place on 7 July in Genoa.

The next will be on September 12th.

The memorial, designed by the architect Stefano Boeri's studio

will rise in the place where the finds of the Morandi bridge have been kept in a shed along the banks of the Polcevera.

During the first hearing on July 7, the Public Prosecutor authorized the movement of the finds. 

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Commemoration of the collapse of the Morandi bridge, Genoa

Present for the first time at the ceremony in memory of the 43 victims of the collapse of the Morandi bridge, also

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Ardini was trapped between the sheets of the white van he was driving and the rubble of the viaduct.

He was seriously injured, suspended twenty meters high, next to the lifeless body of his colleague, Luigi Matti Altadonna.

To save him, with an intervention that lasted four hours, the firefighters.

The man, now 60% disabled, had repeatedly said that he had always chosen to leave Genoa on the occasion of the commemoration, "for the sense of guilt" of having survived.

After participating in the first hearing of the trial, Ardini this time instead arrived at the Glade of Memory, together with his family.

His child, born just a few days after the disaster, shakes his hand.