Inquiry moves to dam site

Press, 25 July 1985, Page 6

Inquiry moves to dam site

NZPA-Reuter Tesero A judicial inquiry into the Stava dam disaster in northern Italy, moved to the scene as rescue workers scaled down their hunt for bodies, with the final death toll still uncertain. Magistrates investigating the cause of the tragedy were to visit the dam which gave way, sending 500,000

cubic metres of muddy water down the Fiemme Valley in the Dolomite mountains. Two more bodies were recovered yesterday from the mud which engulfed the hamlet of Stava and the valley below it, bringing the number of known victims to 199. Civil defence officials

said it could be some time before they could be sure whether the 18 people still officially listed as missing had also died in the disaster. Judicial officials in Trento, the provincial capital, said 60 people had been formally notified that they faced possible prosecution on charges including caus-

ing multiple homicide and catastrophe through negligence. The Minister for Civil Defence. Mr Guiseppe Zamberletti, has said the disaster was, “clearly due to human acts or omissions." and criticised delays in passing a draft law giving his ministry powers to prevent such tragedies.