The Nacimiento Guarantee Court ordered the closure of the investigation into the Santa Ana mega-fire for November, with trial preparation expected by the end of the year. The defense of the accused insisted on their innocence and stated they have evidence to prove it.
Specifically, the court set November 10 as the end of the investigation into the Santa Ana mega-fire, a disaster that affected the Bío Bío region in the summer of 2023.
The ruling was issued during a hearing that had been called to evaluate an additional investigation period. However, since the Public Prosecutor's Office did not request an extension, the court scheduled the date to announce the end of this inquiry.
The plaintiff in the case is the Municipality of Santa Juana, and it was its mayor, Angel Castro, who confirmed the upcoming conclusion of the proceedings, stating that he and his legal director will meet with the Prosecutor's Office to insist on maximum penalties for those responsible.
Those formally charged in the case for the fire and also as responsible for the deaths and injuries to survivors include an employee of the Charrúa Electric Cooperative (Coelcha), Gregorio Medina, as well as contractor Enrique Mercado.
The defense, led by lawyer Marcelo Villena, reported that the case will go to trial, where—he stated—they will prove the complete innocence of their clients.
According to the investigation by prosecutor Jorge Lorca, the accused did not clean the safety strip where the power lines run, which allegedly started the so-called Santa Ana fire, which spread from Nacimiento to Santa Juana and even reached the Coronel area. The mega-disaster resulted in 14 deaths and nine injuries, in addition to millions in material losses.
Source:BiobioChile
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