A huge tragedy which has left an indelible mark on the city of Genoa . Which today is tightening, five years later and once again, in memory of the 43 victims who died from the collapse of the Morandi bridge .
It was 11.36 on August 14, 2018 when the bridge that connects the two ends of the city crumbled, destroying an entire neighborhood. A tragedy that ripped through a quiet August morning, upsetting the lives of many families and, together with them, that of the whole country.
There were 43 dead, 16 injured and 566 displaced , a torment and an open wound for the family members and friends of those who passed on the viaduct that day.
This morning the ceremony not to forget with, at 9, the mass celebrated by the archbishop of Genoa Marco Tasca in the parish church of San Bartolomeo della Certosa. At 10, in the Glade of Memory, under the new San Giorgio viaduct, the arrival of the mayor Marco Bucci, the governor Giovanni Toti and the prefect of Genoa Renato Franceschelli. Then the walk in memory of the victims organized by the "Noi per Voi Valle Stura Masone" association with the mayors of the valley, 43 children present who brought a thought to the relatives of the victims.
At 10.45, again in the Glade of Memory, the ceremony in memory of the victims, with the deposition of a crown of the presidency of the Council of Ministers by the vice president and minister of infrastructure Matteo Salvini.
At 11.36, the exact moment of the collapse, a minute's silence in memory of the victims.
" The passage of time does not mitigate the weight of responsibility for what happened", the message of the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella . «The collapse of the Morandi bridge in Genoa represented a dramatic appeal to the responsibilities - the words of the Head of State - of those who are in charge of providing a public service, both of those who provide, on the ground, for the delivery to users, and of who is responsible for verifying the essential safety conditions. On the fifth anniversary of the collapse, with its tragic toll of human lives annihilated, with the deep wound inflicted on the City of Genoa and on the consciences of all Italians, the Republic renews and strengthens the feelings of closeness and solidarity with the families of the victims and with those have seen their lives turned upside down by a catastrophe as serious as it is unacceptable".
«The forty-three victims, the suffering of their loved ones and the hardships of the displaced will remain forever etched in our memory. Just as we will never forget the heroism of the rescuers and the unceasing commitment of the many who, in those dramatic hours and days, gave testimony of how much Italians know how to give themselves to others », the message of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni .
«The proud reaction of the Genoese, decisive vector for the reconstruction and rebirth of the city, is an equally powerful example of the ability of our people to never let themselves be discouraged by difficulties, even the most extreme, and to know how to get back up. From this strength, from the collaboration between the institutions and from the best energies of the Italian entrepreneurial system, the 'Genoa model' was born which made it possible, in record time, to mend the tear inflicted by the Morandi collapse with the construction of the new Genova San Giorgio bridge . But - he continues - there are many questions posed by that tragedy that have still remained unanswered. The anger, the pain, the thirst for justice of the families of the victims are sacrosanct feelings that deserve all our respect. To those who lost a child, a parent, a loved one - everything - on 14 August 2018, we renew today the dutiful apologies of the State for what happened, while aware that no words will ever be enough to soothe the suffering and appease the desire to justice".
(Unioneonline/vl)