Only a few hours after the tragedy that claimed 13 lives at the Atalayas recreation area on October 1, the City Council opened a confidential information file and launched an internal investigation. To understand the cause of the incident, the commission held its first session yesterday in the Abenarabi building, where members were briefed on the investigation’s initial findings. Sources close to the commission indicate that the report, overseen by the director of Urban Planning services, confirms that the safety protocols followed by the damaged buildings were appropriate and aligned with current laws. The region of Murcia, in 2009, operated without an autonomous law specifically for public entertainment, a context that remains relevant as the case proceeds. It should be noted that the Teatre nightclub, which was ordered to cease operations in 2022, had not yet complied with that order at the time of the incident.
According to these sources, the report explains the following conclusions: a validity and legalization process existed under a 2017 amendment to the 2009 environmental legislation, which permitted establishments to stay open as long as there were no formal complaints indicating violations of environmental standards. There were no such complaints tied to the Atalayas case. The document notes that when inspectors receive a cease-and-desist order, non-compliance can occur due to the 2017 legislative change, a situation observed in other cases as well. The report also highlights a lack of resources within the Activity Disciplinary department, which currently employs only two inspectors to manage a substantial caseload.
Commission is born
During the commission’s formation, councilors from both PP and PSOE attended, although some refused to participate. Vox expressed opposition. Rebeca Pérez, spokesperson for the municipal administration, aimed to clarify several questions related to judicial and administrative processes. She referred to a judge’s decision that stated it was unnecessary to file a separate lawsuit against the City Council and rejected the lawyer for one of the families. The deputy mayor described the order as reflecting the City Council’s cooperative stance with the justice system and underscored that there was no intent to manipulate or obstruct information sharing.
Regarding the commission’s remit, the local government spokesperson said the panel would examine the events of that day in detail, review the administrative files on the damaged facilities, which amount to more than 2,000 pages, and scrutinize records related to psychosocial support and emergency services. It was announced that a range of municipal technicians would join the commission to answer questions, remove doubts, and provide recommendations.
The deputy mayor explained that the commission’s work would improve administrative protocols, increase agility, and strengthen legal certainty. The effort is also seen as a step toward establishing a unified municipal response plan for disasters and emergencies across services. The aim is to create a clearer framework for coordination among departments and to streamline critical decision-making in crisis situations.
Asked whether the commission would clarify political responsibilities, Pérez stated that the council will reach definitive conclusions. She criticized Vox for abstaining from participation, describing the stance as inappropriate and accusing the party of using a tragedy for political purposes. This exchange underscored tensions within the council while reinforcing the commission’s mandate to uncover facts and improve governance.