“Seeing people who come to talk to us, anonymous people who come to comfort us, is heartwarming. It’s Marseille solidarity, that. “A little away, on the boulevard Eugène-Pierre in Marseille, drops of water pearl on the round cheeks of Philippe. The emotion of his sister Martine, at his side, is palpable, but invisible, hidden by large sunglasses. These two Marseillais lost a member of their family on April 9 in the collapse of several buildings on rue de Tivoli.
In the media, journalists called him “Antoinietta Vaccaro”, an 88-year-old woman who lived on the first floor of 17 rue de Tivoli, who has now disappeared after an explosion. “But for us, it was Aunt Antoinette,” corrects Martine. After a trying week, Martine and Philippe take part in this Sunday noon in the ceremony of homage to the eight people who died, at the invitation of the angry Marseille association.
“She was not senile”
“I feel better after this tribute, confides Philippe. So far, I hadn’t cried. And today, tears come to me. I finally allow myself to cry. I realize my aunt is gone. “The mourning will be long and difficult, abounds Martine. Today I am tired. Emptied. “But the town hall is with us, continues Philippe. They take care of everything for the funeral. » Martine unfolds an envelope addressed to her name, with inside, a letter of condolences from the mayor of Marseilles, written by hand: « I would like to thank Monsieur Payan. He addressed comforting words to me which touched me. When I read his letter, tears flowed. »
And to launch: “But I am angry too. Since this drama, I hear that my aunt was senile. All these people don’t know. My aunt was cheerful, lively, dynamic, who loved life despite her advanced age. She was not senile. Bruno Sinapi, the neighbor’s son who lived one floor lower than Antoinietta Vaccaro, filed a complaint against X for “manslaughter”. In a testimony collected by France 2, he accuses the 88-year-old lady by name, who, according to him, “lost his head” and “had recurring problems with gas”. And he calls into question the social services, which, warned, would have done nothing about the gas.
“This gentleman is looking for a culprit”
As for the Municipal Center for Social Action (CCAS) in the city of Marseille, contacted by AFP at the end of last week, we confirm that we have been alerted by the parents of Bruno Sinapi, “worried about the social isolation of Mrs. Vaccaro”. And indeed, a social worker from the service came to her home on March 30, in the presence of a volunteer from the Little Brothers of the Poor and her neighbors on the ground floor. “It was then agreed to set up a household help, as well as to plan work in his bathroom, for questions of accessibility. But the question of gas has never been mentioned” we insist at the CCAS.
A week ago, during a press conference, the public prosecutor of Marseille Dominique Laurens had reported possible “difficulties in using gas equipment” on the part of the octogenarian. “When you say senile, you have to weigh your words, abounds Martine. She was the oldest in the building. But forget the gas, it can happen at any age. “This gentleman is looking for someone at fault,” says Philippe. He is in disarray, like everyone else. But I have no hatred towards him. He is sad, like us. “Like a “black box”, the analysis of the gas meter of Antonietta Vaccaro, found among the rubble, could make it possible to know if there was an abnormal consumption of gas in the twenty-four hours before the explosion.