When a Bridge Goes Boom: The March 2018 Tragedy in Genoa
It was a cold Saturday in August 2018 when the decades‑old Morandi viaduct went from “just overhead” to “catastrophic” in less than a second. Cars, trucks, and big chunks of concrete plummeted 45 metres (about 150 feet) onto the railway track below. And that’s not where the real shock came from—neither the irony that a bridge built in 1967 only collapsed in 2018, nor the fact that the collapse left the area simmering with anger and an aching sense of loss.
Rescue Day 4: Diggers, Firefighters, and the “Is There Anyone?” Chant
- Rescuers cracked through piles of rubble, screaming “is there anyone there?” into the twisted concrete.
- Word “hope” keeps alive even as the odds of finding survivors shrink.
- Fighting the crunch between cranes and bulldozers, the police cleared the biggest bridge slabs.
- Fire chief Emanuele Gissi said: “We’re looking for pockets in the rubble where folks could be—alive or—dead.”
- With 38 confirmed deaths, the mozzarella‑minted confession that 10‑20 people might still be missing directly riled up the official response.
So, Who’s Angry and Why?
The fallout was volcanic. Mayor Matteo Salvini pulled a hard line against Autostrade per L’Italia, calling out alleged under‑maintenance of the bridge:
- Government wants a €500M (≈$570M) bailout to help families, families that had gotten five million tangled up with a shady system.
- “People should put their hearts, wallets and hoses to the rescue of families,” Salvini stated.
- Autostrade’s big boss denied slashing on safety and claimed billions in yearly “safety, maintenance, and strengthening.”
- Stock prices did a dramatic “dive” on the day of the tragedy, spurring a tightened grip on the motorway management company Atlantia (the group that owns Autostrade).
Who Fell? A Little List of Losses
- 38 bodies recovered, 10–20 people still missing.
- Four French nationals, three Chileans, and a child as young as eight.
- Victims included folks who had gone to a music festival, a holiday family, and a couple returning from a California honeymoon.
- Marina Guagliata (58)—an Italian mother—described being buried, along with her daughter, in a crushing concrete wall.
- Some families are choosing private funerals instead of the official event set for Saturday.
The Aftermath: The Displaced and the Long Road Ahead
In the weeks following the collapse, over 600 people were relocated from the apartments beneath torn sections of the bridge. While some returned home, others had to stay out depending on the damage. Hotels and individuals stepped in to host those who were still without a place to stay.
Why So Many Problems? A Quick Dive into the Viaduct’s History
The Morandi viaduct was planned in 1967 but struggled with structural issues for decades. The collapse triggered:
- A year‑long state of emergency declared by the government.
- A short‑term rebuild — the company hoping for a five‑month repair.
- A sharp political backlash against austerity measures and EU budget cuts blamed for weak infrastructure.
- In response, the European Commission reminded Rome “we’ll keep pouring money into fix-ups.”
Global Ripple Effects
Don’t think this is just a local story. Venezuelan headlines were about a viaduct fire caused by a road designed by the same engineer, and that incident triggered a blackout, showing that age and neglect can sound the same alarm worldwide.
