Raganello Massacre: The 7 notices of investigation, first turning point in the investigation

The investigation opened by the Castrovillari Public Prosecutor's Office into the tragedy at the Raganello River Gorge in Civita, where ten people, nine hikers and a guide, died on August 20, has taken a significant step. Prosecutor Eugenio Facciolla issued 7 information notices against as many suspects in the inquiry: the mayors of Civita, San Lorenzo Bellizzi and Cerchiara di Calabria, Alessandro Tocci, Antonio Cersosimo and Antonio Carlomagno; the president of the Pollino National Park, Domenico Pappaterra; Gaetano Gorpia, director of the Biodiversity office of the Carabinieri Forestali, and the hiking guides Giovanni Vancieri and Marco Massaro. All people who would have had a responsibility, in various capacities, in the failure to apply the preventive measures and interventions that could have avoided the tragedy of August 20th. The crimes that are hypothesized in the information of the investigation are manslaughter and negligent injury, negligent flooding and failure to perform official duties. The notices were issued in consideration of the unrepeatable investigative acts that must be carried out in the short term and for which the suspects have the right to be legally and technically represented with the appointment of their experts. The Castrovillari Prosecutor's Office "is fully committed - explained Prosecutor Facciolla himself - to provide the quickest and most effective possible response to justice for what happened. Since the first steps of the investigation - added Facciolla - we have worked tirelessly to give an answer to all those who were involved in the tragedy of the Raganello torrent: to the victims and their families, first of all, and then to the injured and to those who, despite having emerged unharmed, have suffered a serious psychological trauma due to the terrible event they experienced. For this reason, it is right to provide a response of justice as quickly as possible and in the most effective way possible to ascertain the responsibilities for a terrible and, at the same time, avoidable tragedy." "Our commitment, in this sense - the Prosecutor of Castrovillari continued - is maximum. We are making use, among other things, of the best technical skills that represent the best of what our land of Calabria can offer in this sense". The nine hikers who died while in the Raganello gorges came from four different regions: Puglia, Lombardy, Campania and Lazio. Antonio De Rasis, 32 years old, from Civita, one of the most expert guides of Raganello, with many years of experience in accompanying tourists in one of the most suggestive areas of Calabria, lost his life together with them. The hikers were surprised by a violent storm and the resulting flooding of the gorges, which turned into a death trap for them and the guide accompanying them. It was immediately clear that that day the yellow alert issued by the Civil Protection and which should have advised the suspension of excursions was underestimated. Evidently, mistakes and omissions were made that day. And it is on these that the Castrovillari Public Prosecutor's Office is firmly intent on shedding full light."