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Italy Squelched Scientist Who Predicted Quake

Researcher cited for 'spreading alarm,' forced to retract findings

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 6, 2009 12:16 PM CDT
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(Newser) – An Italian scientist had predicted the quake that killed at least 92 early this morning near L’Aquila, but was silenced by the authorities, Reuters reports. Gioacchino Giuliani found evidence a month ago that a strong quake was brewing and organized a public-awareness campaign—which earned him a reprimand from police for “spreading alarm.” Giuliani was forced to remove his findings from the Internet.

But the head of the National Geophysics Institute dismissed the authorities’ apparent lapse: "Every time there is an earthquake there are people who claim to have predicted it. As far as I know nobody predicted this earthquake with precision. It is not possible to predict earthquakes."

A portrait of late Pope John Paul II is seen inside a damaged church in the village of St. Elia, central Italy following a strong earthquake, Monday, April 6, 2009.
A portrait of late Pope John Paul II is seen inside a damaged church in the village of St. Elia, central Italy following a strong earthquake, Monday, April 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Cars are covered with debris and rubble following a strong earthquake, in the village of Onna, central Italy, Monday, April 6, 2009.
Cars are covered with debris and rubble following a strong earthquake, in the village of Onna, central Italy, Monday, April 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Sandro Perozzi)
A firefighter walks by debris following a strong earthquake, in the village of Onna, central Italy, Monday, April 6, 2009.
A firefighter walks by debris following a strong earthquake, in the village of Onna, central Italy, Monday, April 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Sandro Perozzi)
This aerial photo provided by the Italian Police shows the debris of a collapsed building in an area near L'Aquila after a powerful earthquake shook central Italy, early Monday, April 6, 2009.
This aerial photo provided by the Italian Police shows the debris of a collapsed building in an area near L'Aquila after a powerful earthquake shook central Italy, early Monday, April 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Italian Police, ho)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Derni
Apr 6, 2009 6:15 AM CDT
I'll go with the story that says you earsed the story or nebver let it hiot the airwaves-your story saying,"there's always someone that says they predicited it-is the same as them saying they predicted it-but Gov't's aren't that much different-I'll put my money on the scientist.

Deadly tremors could follow Italy quake: scientists
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Thousands homeless after quake
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Italy • predictions • scientist • earthquake • disaster • seismology

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