Seismologists tried for manslaughter after failing to predict earthquake

Six Italian seismologists and one government official were indicted on manslaughter charges in late May for failing to warn central Italy residents about the possibility of an earthquake.

On April 6, 2009, an earthquake struck the city of L’Aquila, killing about 300 people.

The seven, including Enzo Boschi, president of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology and Bernardo De Bernardinis, then the deputy technical head of Italy’s Civil Protection Agency, formed a committee that was charged with assessing the risk of recent seismic activity. At a press conference one week before the quake, De Bernardinis told the public that they were in no danger of a major quake.

After the L’Aquila residents began to recover from the 5.8 magnitude earthquake, many indicated that they had not been prepared for a seismic event of such force and as such, did not take precautionary measures, including leaving their homes.

The public prosecutor of L’Aquila pressed manslaughter charges against the seven. Preliminary hearings began in late May. The trial is set to begin on September 20. If convicted, each of the seven involved could serve up to 12 years in prison.

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