Having allowed building to take place in flood zones is no less serious than having permitted and encouraged the consumption of tobacco or asbestos over the years, even though people were dying and it was very clear that that was the reason why.
Ter-se permitido a construção em leitos de cheia não é menos grave do que ter-se permitido e encorajado o tabagismo ou o uso de amianto ao longo dos anos, apesar de haver gente a morrer e de as causas serem perfeitamente evidentes.