Several Italian agents charged with negligence for failing to help migrants during shipwreck

This article was originally published in Italian

Falsification of documents and omission of relief. With these accusations, the Crotone prosecutor’s office has requested Six people chargedfour members of the Guardia di Finanza and two of the Coast Guard.

He did so for not saving a boat full of migrants that had capsized on the beach of Steccato di Cutro on February 26, 2023, causing the accident. At least 94 people, including 35 children, died

,

the ship accident could have been avoided

Seventeen months after the tragedy, which left an unknown number of people missing, the findings of Crotone prosecutor’s office claims the ship accident was avoidable and rebuilds everything that failed in the rescue chain that night.

There are varying levels of responsibility for the Guardia di Finanza, there are moreWho decided to return to port that night, and interrupted the search for the ship without alerting the Coast Guard, which had adequate equipment to deal with the harsh weather conditions.

Findings of preliminary investigation into delay in rescue operation reported Giuseppe Grilloshift chief of the operations room of the Vibo Valentia provincial command of the Guardia di Finanza; as well as Alberto LippolisCommander of the Rhone in Vibo Valentia.

He also informed Antonino Lopresti

tactical command and control officer on the Rhone at Vibo Valentia; to Nicolino Vardarocommander of the Taranto air-naval group; to Francesca Perfidoduty inspection officer at the Italian Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in Rome; previously Nicola NaniaInspection officer at the Secondary Maritime Rescue Centre of Reggio Calabria.

What the instruction document says

In the reconstruction of the various phases of the intervention, carried out with culpable delays, negligence in the application of the rules that the European and national regulations apply in cases of this type was highlighted”, particularly in the actions they carried out after sighting a boat that was supposed to be aground.

Yes, OK Initial decision to classify the incident as a police operation And the Guardia di Finanza was denounced for failing to carry out maritime rescue operations Not being fully informed about navigation difficulties.

With regard to members of the Coast Guard, on the other hand, “the allegation revolves around the lack of acquisition Information needed for an effective image What was the Coast Guard doing?

The Crotone prosecutor’s office also confirms the presence of a boat full of migrants and in an apparent state of difficulty. ” was promptly flagged by the European agency Frontex He was heading for the Calabrian coast”.