Marseille’s Rue d’Aubagne Collapse Trial Exposes Negligence and Mismanagement
The trial highlights years of ignored warnings and insufficient action by city officials, landlords, and housing authorities leading to the 2018 tragedy that killed eight people.
- The ongoing trial examines the 2018 collapse of two buildings on Rue d'Aubagne in Marseille, which resulted in eight deaths and exposed severe housing neglect.
- Former deputy mayor Julien Ruas faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and endangering lives, with the court scrutinizing his lack of involvement and failure to act on repeated warnings.
- Reports dating back years before the tragedy revealed widespread unsafe housing conditions in Marseille, with over 40,000 substandard units identified in a 2015 report.
- Despite an allocated €6.5 million budget for urgent repairs, only €350,000 was spent over four years, as officials prioritized pressuring landlords over direct intervention.
- Testimonies revealed systemic understaffing and resource shortages in city departments tasked with addressing urban risks, despite internal warnings of potential catastrophic consequences.
Libération 