On the morning of 14 August 2018, Claudia Possetti, 47, was driving with her husband, Andrea, and their two children toward the Italian Riviera when the Morandi viaduct in Genoa suddenly collapsed beneath them, sending their car and several others plunging onto the railway tracks below. Four of them were among the 43 people killed, marking the disaster as one of Italy’s worst infrastructure failures in decades.
Today, around eight years after the collapse, relatives of the victims gather in a Genoa courtroom to hear a first‑instance verdict in the criminal trial that has examined the wreck. Egle Possetti, sister of the late Claudia, told the BBC: “I feel anxious, worried, very emotional. After so many years and hearings, we may finally see some light. It would be vital for us to know if someone has been held accountable.”
The trial, which began in 2022, has seen 57 defendants tried, including former executives of the toll road operator Autostrade per l’Italia and its parent company Atlantia, engineers from the maintenance firm Spea, and former transport ministry officials. Charges vary from multiple manslaughter to falsifying documents, yet all defendants deny wrongdoing.
Investigations point to repeated maintenance delays, ignored warning signs, and a possible design flaw that caused a critical cable to fail. The debate over responsibility fuels broader discussions about ageing infrastructure and Italy’s long‑standing maintenance issues.
Defender Giovanni Paolo Accinni highlighted that prosecutors’ long pre‑trial technical inquiries had to be revisited in court, emphasising the complexity of the case. In August 2023, Autostrade per l’Italia issued its first apology, led by chief executive Arrigo Giana, acknowledging the moral duty to the victims’ families, despite having changed ownership and management.
The remains of the old viaduct were demolished with two explosions in early 2019, and a new bridge, designed by Genoa‑born architect Renzo Piano, was opened in August 2020. Known as the Genoa San Giorgio Bridge, its sail‑shaped white pillars echo the city’s maritime heritage.
Families expect the verdict to bring closure and justice, while the victims’ families committee will hold a press conference in Genoa later this week once the court’s decision is announced.
