Teruel/Zaragoza (EFE).- The Government of Aragon has set psychological care for 21 families (44 people in total) as a priority, one day after a residential building in Teruel collapsed without any fatalities. who have lost their homes, as well as the search for new flats in which those affected can reside.
The Minister of Presidencies and Institutional Relations, Mayte Pérez, has led the meeting of the Operational Coordination Center (CECOP) that has been created after this Tuesday morning, a building fell from which the residents were evicted in time after hearing some strange creaks in the walls and notify the Town Hall and the emergency services.
The building is number 21 on San Francisco Street, but not only was it evacuated, but also the six nearby buildings as a preventive measure. The Provincial Environment Service, which occupies number 23 of the road, has also been evicted.
alternative housing
The CECOP decided that the Territorial Civil Protection Plan in Aragon (PLATEAR), activated in emergency level 1, will be maintained until the six buildings are evaluated and it is determined that they can be used safely.
In addition to the psychosocial care of the evacuees, work carried out by the social services of the Teruel City Council, the Social Services of the Region, the Aragonese Institute of Social Services (IASS), the Red Cross and the GIPEC (Group of Psychological Intervention in Emergencies and Catastrophes), long-term housing alternatives are valued.
In this sense, Pérez has indicated that the General Directorate of Housing has ten houses available from the machinery park, and that the Department of Education has offered 80 places: 40 of the chalets of the Training Center and San Blas and another 40 of the residence. The Diputación has also offered its facilities.
From the Teruel Hospitality School they have shown their willingness to collaborate to cook if required.
While waiting for a new location, the families of the damaged building have initially been welcomed at the Santa Emerenciana day center, while some evacuees have been accommodated at the Santa Cristina hotel
Adjacent building inspections
The technical services of the Turolense City Council and the firefighters of the Teruel Provincial Council inspect the buildings adjoining the farm that collapsed from this Wednesday to verify their stability.
This has been confirmed by the mayoress of Teruel, Emma Buj, who has advanced that it will be easier for the residents of the adjoining properties to enter to collect belongings and pets that were left inside the homes.
Regarding the definitive relocation of these residents, Buj has indicated that first it must be certain that these buildings are solid, and it will be then when the technical services decide if the return is allowed. He has not set deadlines.
The councilor explained that some 50 people have spent the night in hotels and apartments located in San Nicolás de Bari after providing them with pajamas, toiletries and clothing from the consistory. Also, according to her words, psychological help and municipal Social Services are available.
Platform of Affected and possible legal proceedings
The residents affected by the collapse consider that the city council could be responsible and are considering taking legal action.
This Tuesday, in statements to the media during the solidarity rally that was organized in Teruel, which was attended by some 350 people, expressed this way one of the people who has lost her home, Leonor Franco.
He added that, although it is still early, the creation of a Platform for Affected People is being studied because they think that “here there is a lot of responsibility for what has happened on the part of the city council.”
He maintained that the cause of the collapse was not a “normal and ordinary” flood, such as when there is torrential rain, and pointed out that the water did not enter through the garage door, but through a wall, “and it smelled of fecal water”.
The president of the community of residents of the garage of the affected building, Javier Carbó, explained that the structure had leak problems for 10 or 12 days, for which reason they went to the Teruel City Council to request measures and to send a technician or municipal architect to ensure its structural integrity.
According to this neighbor’s version, the City Council sent technicians from Sastesa, the Teruel Water and Sanitation Service (a mixed company formed by the Diputación de Teruel and Aragonesa de Servicios Públicos), who “studied the problems of water leaks, but not the structure, because it is not within their competence”.
Political repercussions
The demand for responsibilities and the request for support for the future new government team to the affected residents have led the interventions of the different political groups in the last plenary session of the mandate still in force. The City Council will be renewed next Saturday after the municipal elections on May 28.
The mayoress has stated that she feels “shocked” by what happened, while representatives of PSOE, Ciudadanos, PAR, CHA and Vox, Ganar Teruel-IU and Espacio Municipalista have insisted on the demand for support for those affected.