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An Italian court has convicted 32 people, including former Autostrade per l’Italia chief Giovanni Castellucci, over the 2018 collapse of the Morandi Bridge in Genoa that claimed 43 lives. Castellucci was sentenced to 12 years in prison after being found guilty of complicity in multiple counts of manslaughter through negligence. Another 25 defendants were either acquitted or cleared due to the statute of limitations.

The Morandi Bridge collapsed during a summer storm on August 14, 2018, sending dozens of vehicles plunging nearly 50 metres onto warehouses and a riverbed below. The disaster shocked Italy and triggered widespread scrutiny of the country’s ageing infrastructure, while victims’ families welcomed the verdict as an important step toward accountability.

Prosecutors argued that years of poor maintenance, ignored safety warnings and delayed repair work contributed to the tragedy. However, the defence maintained that the collapse resulted from an original design flaw that maintenance could not have prevented. Castellucci’s legal team has announced plans to appeal the ruling under Italy’s multi-stage judicial system.

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In the Netherlands, a tragic incident occurred in Lochem where two workers lost their lives and two others were injured during the construction of a bridge. The collapse happened when cables supporting a bridge arch snapped, causing it to plummet to the ground. The deceased workers were identified as one from Belgium and the other from Poland, but further details such as their names and ages were not disclosed.

The collapse, labeled as an “industrial accident” by officials, prompted an ongoing investigation to determine its cause. Witnesses, including onlookers, were deeply affected by the sudden collapse and are receiving psychological support.

According to one witness, the collapse occurred shortly after the arch began swinging, followed by a loud bang. The bridge was intended to span a major canal as part of a new ring road project in Lochem, Gelderland.

Mayor Sebastiaan van ‘t Erve expressed shock over the incident, highlighting the extensive planning and development efforts over five years leading up to the construction. Despite this, the bridge collapsed in a single day, resulting in fatalities and injuries.

The exact cause of the collapse remains unclear, and investigations are ongoing. Local authorities confirmed that the injured workers were hospitalized but expected to recover.

Andre Meilink from the regional safety authority provided insight into the incident, explaining that the bridge began to twist as it was being lifted, leading to the collapse of a section.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright