The tragedy of the Club Bahiense del Norte hurts a lot. Cars and passers-by who pass through Salta 28 always stop to look at that building that on Saturday suffered the consequences of the strong storm that swept through the city: it all ended in the detachment of a wall that caused the death of 13 people who were enjoying a skate presentation. This morning, expert reports were carried out to determine what happened, in relation to the possible mechanics of the event and the definitive classification of the case.
"A criminal case was initiated to investigate the causes of death. We are taking the first steps with official experts from the National University of the South and the College of Engineers to bring the first details, precisely to determine what happened," explained prosecutor Cristian Aguilar, who is leading the investigation that was initiated ex officio. Aguilar is the head of UFIJ No. 1, which specializes in culpable crimes.
"We brought in experts from the expert advisory, which depends on the Judiciary, and then we formed a work team made up of three people, three civil engineers who have specialties in the field. They are going to tell us exactly why the collapse occurred, if there is any failure, or not, that caused it and from there we will determine if we continue with the criminal case and what is the meaning of that cause," the prosecutor added.
He added: "We are facing a very serious event (...) It merits the intervention of the Prosecutor's Office, the formation of a criminal case and the fact that there is no doubt as to what happened. What we're going to do is determine whether this could have been avoided or not. From that question, which has such an important answer, we will see how the criminal case continues."
Aguilar also explained that the sector that collapsed "is the back of the front of the club, a side wall where the roof of what would be something similar to a stadium was supported." He indicated that below that sector "was the rostrum and, in that tribune, the fatalities."
Gymnasium of the Bahiense Norte club where a wall collapsed and crushed several people Photo: Fernando de la Orden / Special Envoy to Bahia Blanca
The prosecutor clarified that these expert reports are preliminary reports that will be used to request new specific reports: "They are the most urgent first measures to prevent the loss of evidence and so that the engineers, who are the people who know about the matter, have a direct view of what happened."
In response to Clarín's query, sources from the Bahía Blanca Public Prosecutor's Office added that the general reports will be available in the coming days.
Regarding the situation of the bodies of the deceased in the Club Bahiense del Norte, they indicated that "autopsy reports have already been ordered and handed over to their relatives" and that this will be done as soon as possible as soon as the task is accomplished.
This afternoon at 19:30 p.m. a press conference will be held on the steps of the Municipality with the mayor, Federico Susbielles, the head of the Security, Emergency and Immediate Response Agency, Federico Montero and representatives of the security forces.
The Municipality also reported that due to the complications due to lack of electricity services, cell phone recharging stations were located in the following parts of the city: Plaza Villa Mitre - Garibaldi and Rivadavia; Gorriti and Malvinas. In addition, the UTN made available a recharging station at 11 de Abril 461.
Bahía Blanca. Special Envoy
MG