Costa Tropical
Development Ministry officials in court for Almuñécar viaduct tragedy
By m.p. - Sep 25, 2007 - 6:28 PM
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The judge investigating the collapse of a viaduct under construction on the A-7 motorway near Almuñecar in November 2005, questioned two representatives of the Development Ministry in court on Monday, in connection with the deaths of the six men who lost their lives.
The judge ruled last month that neither the Ministry nor the main contractor and sub-contractors used had carried out maintenance and safety controls as they should, giving that as part of the cause of the collapse.
Called to court as suspects on Monday were Juan Francisco Martín Enciso, Road Demarcation Chief for Eastern Andalucía, and Pablo Jiménez Barreda, the Project Engineering Director. Both are employed by the Ministry, and both, according to union CCOO’s secretary for Granada province, Rafael Roldán, said responsibility for safety checks laid with the safety coordinator.
He described such a view as ‘inadmissible’ and alleged that the two officials were rarely seen at the site.
Ideal newspaper said on Tuesday that representatives from the two construction companies are called to appear in court on 8th and 9th October.
It’s believed that metal fatigue caused the supporting metal platform to give way on 7th November 2005, killing five workmen from Portugal and another from Galicia.
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