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Italy: Scientists go on trial for not predicting deadly quake
http://www.adnkronos.com/IGN/Aki/English/CultureAndMedia/Italy-Scientists-go-on-trial-for-not-predicting-deadly-quake_312468858733.html
L'Aquila, 20 Sept. (AKI) - The controversial trial of seven people accused of manslaughter for allegedly failing to warn people about a devastating 2009 earthquake in central Italy started on Tuesday.
Seven scientists and an ex-government official are accused of giving false information that didn't allow people to prepare for the 6.3 magnitude quake that killed 309 people and toppled the medieval city of L'Aquila located about 90 kilometers northeast of Rome, and several towns in the surrounding area.
The defendants say they did nothing wrong and claim that predicting earthquakes is an imperfect science.
The quake that struck on 6 April 2009 at 3:32 am killed 309 people making it Italy's deadliest in around 30 years. It damaged or destroyed some 10,000 buildings, leaving tens-of-thousands homeless.
The prosecution says the accused are guilty of "negligence and imprudence... of having provided an approximate, generic and ineffective assessment of seismic activity risks as well as incomplete, imprecise and contradictory information."
The defendants were members of the Serious Risks Commission, a panel whose job was to assess the risks of a major quake following a long period of minor tremors.
The trial is being watched by scientists and bureaucrats worldwide.
A 2010 letter signed by more than 5,000 scientists was sent to Italian president Giorgio Napolitano.
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