In brief
In July 2026 a judge in Genoa sentenced former chief executive Giovanni Castellucci to 12 years for his role in the Morandi bridge disaster of 2018, which swept vehicles into the harbor and killed 43 people. Other former executives received sentences ranging from five to eleven years, while 32 defendants were found guilty and 25 acquitted. Victim families hailed the verdict as a necessary step toward accountability, though appeals are expected to prolong the legal process. The new San Giorgio viaduct, opened two years after the collapse, now stands as a symbol of reconstruction.
In a landmark verdict on Thursday, the Court of Genoa sentenced former chief executive of Autostrade per l’Italia (Aspi) Giovanni Castellucci to 12 years in prison for his role in the 2018 collapse of the city’s Morandi bridge, which claimed the lives of 43 people.
The bridge’s destruction on 14 August 2018 sent five lorries and several cars plummeting into the harbor amid a heavy rainstorm. Prosecutors had sought a much harsher sentence, but the judge granted 12 years, plus two additional years to other former executives—ranging from five to eleven years—who were charged with manslaughter and negligence.
Thirty‑two defendants were found guilty, while 25 others were acquitted or cleared under the statute of limitations. The verdict is the first major step toward accountability, according to Genoa’s mayor Silvia Salis, who described the day as one of “immense historical and emotional weight.”
Victim families reacted with a mix of relief and caution. “I am very satisfied with the verdict,” said Emmanuel Diaz, whose brother died in the collapse. Egle Possetti, head of the victims’ memorial committee, praised the 12‑year sentence as “acceptable.” Yet, appeals are expected to drag on, reflecting the complex litigation surrounding infrastructure safety in Italy.
The old bridge’s remains were demolished in 2019, and the San Giorgio viaduct—designed by Renzo Piano—took the place in 2020, featuring sail‑like pylons that echo Genoa’s maritime heritage. Despite the reconstruction, the 2018 disaster remains a stark reminder of the need for rigorous maintenance and oversight of aging infrastructure.
