The Prato Prosecutor’s Office has requested indictments for 11 individuals—including public administrators and technical officials from Prato-area municipalities—on charges of manslaughter and culpable disaster related to the November 2023 floods that caused fatalities, extensive flooding, and severe damage. Preliminary hearing judge Marco Malerba scheduled the first court session for November 19.
Indictments are sought for former Prato Mayor Matteo Biffoni, then-Deputy Mayor and Civil Protection Councillor Simone Faggi, and then-Urban Planning Councillor Valerio Barberis. Prosecutors also seek charges against Montemurlo Mayor Simone Calamai (still in office) and former Montemurlo Civil Protection Councillor Valentina Vespi.
Municipal officials from both cities face identical accusations: Pamela Bracciotti and Sergio Brachi (Prato); Sara Tintori and Stefano Grossi (Montemurlo). Additionally, Central Valdarno Civil Engineering chief Fabio Martelli and Autostrade per l’Italia Fourth Section Director Luca Della Longa (solely for culpable disaster) are named. Chief Prosecutor Luca Tescaroli and deputies Valentina Cosci and Alessia La Placa signed the filings.
Prosecutors recommended dismissing cases against four suspects: Montemurlo official Alessandra Casali; Autostrade’s Giuseppe D’Elia; and Middle Valdarno Reclamation Consortium managers Iacopo Manetti and Nicola Giusti.
The Prato flood killed Antonio Tumulo, swept away by the Bardena torrent while in his vehicle, and Alfio Ciolini, who drowned in his Montemurlo home during the Bagnolo stream overflow. Damage reached millions of euros, with dramatic rescues including two people extracted from vehicles submerged in the Bisenzio River.
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