By Emma Jolliff
Seven Italian scientists and seismologists are facing charges of manslaughter for allegedly failing to warn residents in the town of L'Aquila of the risks of a devastating earthquake. The quake killed more than 300 people and destroyed much of the town in 2009.
The seven defendants are accused of giving "inexact, incomplete and contradictory information" about whether smaller tremors felt by L'Aquila residents in the six months before the April 6, 2009 quake should have constituted grounds for a quake warning.
Last year, about 5,200 international researchers signed a petition supporting their Italian colleagues. The Seismological Society of America wrote to Italy's president expressing concern about what it called an unprecedented legal attack on science.
"Earthquakes at the moment are inherently unpredictable. No one has ever successfully predicted an earthquake," explained GNS seismologist John Ristau.
"It is something that they can present in court to say that other seismologist agree that they shouldn't be held responsible for failing to predict something that you can't predict," he said.
He says the best seismologists can do is come up with probabilities and forecasts.
For instance, in Christchurch they are based on an aftershock sequence, or understanding how often a major fault line is likely to be active.
Seven months ago 181 people died in the Christchurch earthquake.
Seismologists around the world are watching the Italian case closely.
Lawyer Michael Bott told 3 News that manslaughter charges are decided by establishing recklessness and a negligent intention. He says establishing blame in the case of an earthquake would be very difficult.
Mr Ristau says if the Italians are convicted, seismologists may seek legal counsel before giving their already cautious advice.
3 News / AP
source: newshub archive
