Dominican Republic Explosion: Plastics Company To Blame for Blast, Officials Say

The Dominican Republic explosion in the city of San Cristobal, which killed 31 people, may have been caused by a plastics company. This is what Dominican authorities say after days of rescue efforts and investigations.

According to the Associated Press, Dominican Police and the Public Ministry issued a joint statement and revealed that based on the evidence they gathered, it was a plastics company known as Vidal Plast that caused the explosion, rather than the bakery that authorities initially believed was the cause.

Prosecutors in the country are now preparing a case against that company.

"The Public Ministry has evidence that compromises the criminal responsibility of those responsible who, with their actions, caused the death of dozens of people and caused millions in losses," prosecutor Fadulia Rosa Rubio stated.

Several people are currently being investigated in connection to the blast, but the Dominican Republic Public Ministry did not identify who they are. Vidal Plast has not yet commented on the issue, though it seems that the company has had safety issues previously.

The business reportedly had a fire back in March, which was caused by a spark and a chemical substance. Authorities stated that Vidal Plast did not take any measures "despite knowing the high risk of its operations." The company's factory had also been closed in the past.

Medical and Psychological Aid Sent After Dominican Republic Explosion

The Ministry of Public Health (MSP) and the National Health System (SNS), and the Center for Orientation and Integral Research (COIN) have formed a partnership to send a medical and psychological mission to San Cristobal, where the explosion happened for those affected by the blast.

According to Dominican Today, the operation has already started and is ongoing. It delivers a range of medical and psychological services to the affected community, including psychological consultations, pediatric care, and general medicine. The services even include an optional rapid HIV test.

The team reportedly includes 12 highly skilled professionals in various fields of expertise, including doctors, psychologists, and social workers, who are working to help alleviate the toll of the deadly Dominican Republic explosion.

Identifying the Dominican Republic Explosion Casualties May Take Months

As the death toll climbs to 31, Dominican Republic authorities are saying that it might take months to identify those who died in the deadly explosion in San Cristobal, which is located near the capital, Santo Domingo.

The announcement came as more and more family and friends of those who might have died rushed to identify the bodies. As Latin Post previously reported, the deaths included a 4-month-old baby.

There have also been over 50 people injured in the blast, with a majority of them still being hospitalized, according to The Independent. Because of the seriousness of the injuries, authorities already expected the death toll to climb.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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