THE SENTENCE OF SCIENTISTS RELATED TO DEVASTATING L'AQUILA EARTHQUAKE

Abstract

On the 6 April 2009, the town of L'Aquila was devastated by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake in which 308 persons died. Before the earthquake, an increased seismic activity took place, which cannot be used to forecast a devastating earthquake according to the scientific knowledge, because in large majority such sequences are not followed by a large earthquake, and because it is generally accepted that short-term earthquake prediction is not possible. Nevertheless, a public prosecutor accused seven members of the Italian commission for the forecast and prevetion of major risks who participated at the meeting in L'Aqulia six days before the earthquake, of manslaughter and underestimation of the risk indicators. In the trial, they were all sentenced to six year in prison. This drew strong response in the scientific community all over the world. Several questions were raised: was this a trial against science or against the communication with the public about the risk related to the possible occurrence of natural disaster, or against an unclearly defined role of scientists and authorities in it.