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On August 14th, 2018, the Morandi Bridge in Genoa, Italy collapsed, resulting in the death of 43 people and causing significant destruction. Designed by Ricardo Morandi and opened in 1967, the bridge was a symbol of Italian engineering. However, on a rainy morning, pylon number nine disintegrated, and an 800-foot section of the bridge fell, crushing cars and buildings below. Rescue efforts began immediately, but many were already dead or seriously injured. Investigations into the collapse revealed that potential causes included corrosion of the steel cables due to high salinity levels and the bridge's aging infrastructure. The event raised major concerns about the safety of Italian infrastructure and led to criminal charges against 59 employees of the bridge's owner, including former CEO Giovanni Castelucci . Despite efforts for safety improvements, the disaster highlights the impact of negligence and cost-cutting measures in infrastructure maintenance.

00:00 Introduction to the Genoa Bridge Collapse
00:35 Design and Construction of the Morandi Bridge
01:44 The Day of the Collapse
03:42 Immediate Aftermath and Rescue Efforts
07:44 Investigation and Theories Behind the Collapse
11:18 Legal Consequences and Ongoing Trials
13:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Special thank you to Lunarfall Audio for producing and doing all the heavy lifting on audio editing since April 13, 2025, the Murder of Christopher Meyer episode https://lunarfallaudio.com/