Mont Blanc fire trial

After a long, complex investigation, 16 people are set to appear in a French court to face manslaughter charges stemming from a fire in a Mont Blanc tunnel that killed 39 people.

Defendants in the trial, expected to last three months, face fines and up to three years in prison if found guilty of manslaughter in connection with the 1999 blaze in the tunnel linking France and Italy.

About 160 witnesses are expected to appear, and more than 200 civil parties represented by dozens of lawyers will follow the proceedings.