National Police The identification of the 13 people who died in Teatre and Fonda Milagros nightclubs this Wednesday has been completed. While a fire broke out in Murcia, the origin and causes of the fire, which may have started in air conditioning cylinders according to the statements of many eyewitnesses, continue to be investigated. Police sources stated that six of the bodies were identified through fingerprints. The identities of the other seven victims were determined by comparing DNA samples taken from their relatives.
Once this mission is completed, it is expected that the relatives of these 13 people, who are nationals of Nicaragua, Colombia and Ecuador, will be able to receive the bodies of their loved ones within the next few hours, as autopsies have already been performed.
In addition, the Government of Murcia started working to bring the relatives of the five victims of the fire that destroyed three nightclubs in the Murcian capital Atalayas region to Spain from Marseille (France), Ecuador and Nicaragua.
Admin Resources Fernando Lopez Legacy They reported this With the management of these international transfers, The cost of regrouping expenses will be assumed, in addition to coordinating the assistance needs that arise in each case, in coordination with the municipal councils of the city of Murcia and Caravaca de la Cruz, in the latter case where two couples of Ecuadorian and Colombian origin reside.
Comprehensive visual inspection to investigate causes
six agents This Wednesday, the Science Police resumed collecting samples from the damaged facility.Yesterday, they examined the facades and roofs by taking photos and videos with the help of a drone.
Although it is too early to determine the cause of the fire, initial hypotheses are that it broke out around six in the morning on the first floor of La Fonda Milagros nightclub, where firefighters found 13 bodies in an area of approximately 20 square meters.
The exact start time of the fire has not been determined yet, but it is known that the first calls to the Emergency Coordination Center came to 112 at 06:00 in the morning.
Client testimony key to investigation
In parallel with the investigation carried out by specialist fire officers (a team from the General Scientific Police Station set out from Madrid on Monday), Judicial Police officers are continuing to take statements from relatives and customers on the day, in anticipation of incidents in the next few days. several dozen testimonies.
It’s important for agents to know “how the rest of the night went” because any information they provide could be relevant to the investigation.
A police spokesman told EFE that fifteen witnesses to the tragedy went to the police station. The aim is to try to clarify the exact moment between 5 and 6 a.m. when the fire may have started.
According to several eyewitnesses, there are flames in the air conditioning pipes
Of the fifteen witnesses who had previously testified, a couple told police that the fire “came out from the back area to the DJ’s area next to the wall connecting the Teatre nightclub to the Fonda Milagros.”
Several witnesses agree that they saw flames coming from the air conditioning ducts.
María Belén S., one of the witnesses in the Teatre room, warned of the “intense cold” emitted by the air conditioner in the room, which made her feel uncomfortable throughout the night until five o’clock in the morning when the air conditioner disappeared. There was only an hour left until the fire started, at which point he began to notice the intense heat and decided to return home.
A police spokesman told EFE that fifteen witnesses to the tragedy went to the police station to provide all the necessary information that could help in the investigation of the cause of the fires.
The penalty for reckless homicide can be up to 9 years
Chief regional prosecutor José Luis Díaz Manzanera stated the following while awaiting the conclusion of the case filed by the Murcia Court of Investigation No. 3: If the judicial process determines that the 13 deaths were caused by gross negligence, those responsible for these murders could face up to 9 years in prison. prison.
In any case, Díaz Manzanera emphasized that it is not the result of carelessness, but rather the “initial conduct” that will determine possible penalties, and therefore insisted on the necessity of waiting for police and expert reports.
Additionally, it will be important to determine whether the fire was caused by negligence on the part of the facility itself or by the improper action of a specific person who may have caused the fire.
Regarding legal liability, he stated that it is very important to know whether the affected venues have insurance so that victims can receive compensation if the venue is responsible for the incident.