Building destroyed by 2009 L'Aquila earthquakeDOWNING STREET / FLICKR
Six Italian seismologists and a government official will be tried for manslaughter after participating in a committee that announced that an increased seismic activity in the Italian city of L'Aquila posed no risk to the local population just one week before an earthquake struck and killed 309 people two years ago. They are accused of misinforming and falsely assuring the public, which resulted in people not taking proper precautions for the disaster, Nature reports. In their defense, the scientists claim it was not their responsibility to inform the public and therefore they cannot be held responsible for what public officials said.
Interested in reading more?
Become a Member of
Receive full access to more than 35 years of archives, as well as TS Digest, digital editions of The Scientist, feature stories, and much more!
