due uccisi quando crolla passerella a 'Gomorra', famosa slum italiana
The Italian Fire Brigade stated that a 29-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman lost their lives in the collapse at the Le Vele housing complex in the Neapolitan suburb of Scampia.
More than 800 people were residing illegally in the apartment complex at the time, including 300 children. All have been evacuated to tent camps set up by the country’s civil protection agency.
The complex, which gained notoriety in Roberto Saviano’s “Gomorrah” book, film, and television series, was the base of operations for several criminal groups linked to the Camorra, a powerful Neapolitan mafia-like organization. Many apartments and wings were shielded by heavy fencing and bullet-proof glass, and local police frequently raided the buildings. The complex was also a popular venue for drug deals.
The housing complex, constructed in the 1970s and 1980s, initially consisted of four apartment buildings shaped like sails (“vele”) connected by elevated walkways. However, in 2020, regional authorities ordered the site to be cleared and demolished. Since then, three of the buildings have been destroyed, leaving only one standing.
The cause of the collapse at the remaining building is still unknown, but the structure has been condemned for years, and essential services like running water, electricity, and gas are all brought in illegally.
In recent years, the complex has been inhabited by people who lost their homes during the devastating earthquake in 1980 that killed nearly 2,500 people and left 250,000 homeless. Many of these people moved to the complex while waiting for the new homes promised by the national government that never materialized.
After the order to clear the complex in 2020, the local municipality initiated a redevelopment project to house those still living at La Vele. The project is still ongoing but remains unfinished.
Naples mayor Gaetano Manfredi expressed his condolences to those affected by the collapse and offered assistance to those who still reside there.
“Now is the time to think about the victims – but I want to reiterate that our redevelopment project will not stop, and our commitment to Scampia will be even stronger than before,” Manfredi said.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also expressed her sadness at the news.
“In this hour of pain, my condolences go to the victims’ families, along with a thought of closeness for the wounded and their loved ones,” she wrote on social media. She also thanked emergency services for their help.
The tragic incident has gained international attention, with many expressing concern about the safety conditions in such housing complexes not just in Italy, but across Europe.
Regardless of the collapse occurring in Italy, similar situations can be found in various parts of the world, emphasizing the need for comprehensive global policies to address substandard living conditions.
