An operator has been charged by Justice for his alleged responsibility in the gas pipeline explosion in Villa María, which triggered a fire in the area and resulted in five people being injured, three of them in serious condition.
The accused is a 38-year-old man who was operating the backhoe at the time of the incident and is currently free. He is charged with the crime of alleged negligent harm, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. The prosecutor in charge of the investigation, Juliana Companys, made the decision to charge him while awaiting the results of the forensic analyses and the health status of the affected individuals to determine possible additional responsibilities.
As a consequence of the explosion, three homes were affected, one of which was completely destroyed. The destroyed home was occupied by a family of five who suffered serious injuries. These houses were located in a precarious area of the Villa Albertina neighborhood, near the site of the explosion, according to the authorities.
The injured, two men aged 48 and 18 transferred to the Burn Institute in Córdoba city, and two women aged 45 and 15 along with a 12-year-old boy taken to Pasteur Hospital, have burns of varying degrees. The Córdoba Police provided this information about the health status of the individuals affected by the incident.