In a tragic incident on Tuesday, an elevated walkway collapsed in the condemned Italian slum of Le Vele, located in the Neapolitan suburb of Scampia. The Italian Fire Brigade reported that the collapse claimed the lives of a 29-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman, while at least 13 others were injured.

At the time of the incident, the housing complex was home to over 800 squatters, including 300 children. The occupants have since been evacuated to tent camps set up by the country's civil protection agency. Le Vele gained infamy due to its association with organized criminal groups, particularly the Camorra, a powerful Neapolitan Mafia-like organization.

The complex, which gained further notoriety through Roberto Saviano's "Gomorrah," a book, film, and television series highlighting the exploits of the Camorra, had several sections used by criminal gangs. Many of these areas were protected by sturdy fences and bullet-proof glass, making them difficult to access.

Originally constructed in the 1970s and 1980s, the Le Vele complex consisted of four sail-shaped apartment buildings connected by elevated walkways. However, in 2020, regional authorities deemed the site unsafe and ordered its clearance and demolition. Three of the buildings have already been torn down, with only one remaining.

Although the exact cause of the walkway's collapse is yet to be determined, the remaining building has been condemned for years. The residents living there face numerous challenges, such as obtaining basic amenities like running water, electricity, and gas, through illegal means. The complex has provided refuge to individuals displaced by the devastating 1980 earthquake in Naples, which claimed thousands of lives and left a quarter of a million people homeless.

While a redevelopment project was initiated by the local municipality in 2020 to provide housing for the remaining residents of La Vele, it remains unfinished. Despite the tragic incident, Naples Mayor Gaetano Manfredi assured affected individuals of continued support and commitment to the redevelopment project, emphasizing that their efforts in Scampia will only strengthen.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her condolences to the families of the victims and offered support to those still residing in the area. She acknowledged the efforts of emergency services in the aftermath of the collapse.

As investigations into the incident continue, the focus remains on providing assistance and finding long-term solutions for the residents affected by the collapse in the notorious Italian slum.