Ivorian worker Issouf Koné dies in construction accident in Italy

On 12 June 2024, 33‑year‑old Issouf Koné, an Ivorian migrant who had lived in Teramo for more than a decade, was killed when the bucket of an excavator struck him at a construction site for the Gerosa lake water‑treatment plant in Montefortino, Fermo, Marche. He had arrived in Italy after crossing Libya in 2016, obtained a residence permit and worked in the building sector.

Funeral services were held at the church of Sant’Antonio in Teramo, attended by the Casa del Popolo and representatives of the USB union, which called for a full judicial inquiry into the accident and for the introduction of a specific crime of “murder on the job.” Activists highlighted the vulnerability of migrant workers, precarious contracts and the link between work permits and employment, calling for reforms to protect those in high‑risk jobs.