On the morning of 14 August 2018, a tragic event occurred when a bridge in Genoa, Italy collapsed. Claudia Possetti was in a car with her new husband Andrea and her two children, aged 12 and 16. They were on their way to the Italian Riviera for a holiday. Unfortunately, the bridge gave way and the car fell onto the railway tracks below. Sadly, all four members of the family died that day, along with 39 other victims. Nearly eight years later, Claudia's sister Egle Possetti travels to a courtroom in Genoa where she hopes to hear a verdict. The families of the victims have waited for answers for many years. Egle feels anxious and emotional as she awaits the decision. She believes that knowing who is responsible could provide them with some peace and justice. The company in charge has issued an apology, stating they regret not apologizing earlier. A new bridge was built and opened in 2020, marking a significant step for the community.
B1 · Intermediate · 166 words · ~1 min
2026-07-16 · BBC News · politics

Families Await Verdict in Genoa Bridge Disaster Case
Word notebook · B1
Tap a highlighted word in the text, or study the list below.
- tragic
- causing great sadness or suffering
- verdict
- a decision made by a judge or jury
- community
- a group of people living in the same area
- apologize
- to say that you are sorry for doing something wrong
- suffer
- to experience pain or hardship
Comprehension check · B1
Finished reading? See how much stuck.
1.What did the family do on the day of the disaster?
2.How many victims died in the bridge collapse?
3.What important event will happen in the courtroom?















































