The collapse of an Italian cemetery into the sea: Forensic approach to human remains identification

Abstract

On February 22nd, 2021, a landslide on the Italian coast caused the collapse of an old cemetery. About 370 coffins tumbled and more than 200 fell into the sea. 333 groups of unidentified human remains were found: 140 decomposed bodies and 193 bags of commingled skeletal remains. The Medical Staff of Legal and Forensic Medicine was involved for analyzing the remains in order to identify and bury them. The remains involved belonged to people who died between the end of the XIX century and 2017; all were interesting by advanced transformative phenomena. For the identifications, new forms, based on the Interpol DVI ones, were created. Information was collected by relatives through a specific antemortem form. Relatives’ information and post-mortem data were compared: 19 body were identified thanks to secondary methods (like object in the bury, dresses, medical devices). 147 bone samples (long bones and teeth) were collected for the genetic analysis. Among the 77 relatives eligible for a genetic comparison, 66 gave consent to DNA swab for collection and genetic typing. Currently, after 48 samples DNA analysis (STRs and Y-polymorphism) 12 remains were identified, 21 presented a profile suitable for comparison but without attribution, and 7 did not return a comparable profile caused by stochastic effects. 31 subjects have been identified and the genetics analysis are still in progress. The Cemetery collapse shows that every disaster requires a tailored approach.