Santo Domingo. – Citizens of San Cristóbal reacted to the decision of a single-judge court that declared the owners of Vidal Plast innocent, who were accused by the Public Ministry in relation to the explosion that occurred on August 14, 2023, which left 38 people dead and dozens injured.
After the ruling was known, some people questioned that no responsibilities have been established for the event and raised the need for the authorities to continue providing answers about what happened.
Jesús Javier described it as an act of irresponsibility that, as he claimed, the Government has not offered a response to those who lost loved ones in the tragedy.
“They still haven’t said anything. They said they are free from all of that, but I see that as irresponsible because what about the people who died there?”, expressed Javier, who recalled that last Saturday he went to the site and observed a large number of people gathered in the space where the explosion occurred.
The citizen also questioned the authorities’ response to the tragedy and asserted that pain still exists among those who were affected.
“The Government has done nothing and says nothing,” he stated, considering that it is the State’s responsibility to provide a response to a tragedy of that magnitude.
Javier also lamented that almost three years have passed since the explosion without, in his view, a sufficient response having been given to those who are still demanding justice.
Another citizen, identified as Mayra, also considered that it must be determined who was responsible for what happened and that the case must continue to be investigated by the corresponding authorities.
“I believe they have to do justice for what caused this tragedy,” Mayra stated when referring to the court’s decision.
The ruling favored Edward Armando Vidal Garrido, his wife Maribel Sandoval Almánzar and his daughter Mercedes Altagracia Vidal Sandoval, as well as the company Vidal Plast SRL.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office had charged them with involuntary manslaughter for alleged “clumsiness,” “recklessness,” and “non-compliance” with regulations related to commercial activities, the storage of plastics, and health and environmental standards.
Lawyer Teobaldo Durán, representative of the owning family and the company, reported that the magistrate also acquitted the defendants in the civil aspect, because the relatives of the deceased desisted from pursuing compensation for damages and losses.
For his part, Roberto Faxas, who claims to represent the victims, reported that they are maintaining a lawsuit against the San Cristóbal City Council and the Ministry of Public Works, institutions they hold responsible for the tragedy. As he explained, the action was filed before the Superior Administrative Court for RD$3.8 billion.
According to Faxas, in addition to the 38 deceased persons who were identified, there are 12 missing persons whose bodies were legally declared deceased by the National Congress.
