The government points to speeding as a possible cause of the explosion of the pipe that has left at least eight dead on the Concordia bridge

The causes of the explosion on Wednesday of a gas pipe, which caused a shocking fire to the east of Mexico City and that has left at least eight fatalities and 94 injured, are still in investigation but the strongest hypothesis points to speeding. Prosecutor Bertha María Mayor has reported Thursday that investigations advance in that way although other open are maintained. The truck driver, who is in critical condition, has not been arrested but was guarded.

The head of the capital government, Carla Brugada, has detailed on Thursday that the Attorney General’s Office has initiated investigations to determine the cause of the accident and to “demarcate responsibilities and ensure that there is no impunity.” And he emphasized: “We all want justice.” The local authority has also updated the figures of affected, raising the deceased people and the injured to eight. Of the latter, 22 are in critical condition. Among the dead, there are five men, two people still unidentified and a recently more fatal victim than who did not give more details until they can inform their relatives.

The accident of the gas pipe and the subsequent explosion with gusts of fire up to 30 meters high, which calcined about twenty vehicles around it, was qualified by the head of capital capital Juan Manuel Pérez Cova as the worst in the Mexican capital since 2015. Then, a gas leak of a truck caused a burst and fire in the maternal hospital of Cuajimalpa and caused the death of seven people and caused the death of seven people. including three babies, and left dozens of injured.

The event occurred after 14:00 in the afternoon in the vicinity of the Concorda bridge, near the limits of the mayor of Iztapalapa and Chalco, on the border with the State of Mexico and, according to the first report that the authorities received after the accident, the vehicle that transported more than 49,000 liters of liquefied oil gas was turned in the middle of the road and the impact resulted in the gas fug caused the fire. As the capital prosecutor pointed out, the speeding could be one of the reasons for the overturning that triggered the tragedy.

The driver of the pipe, Ubaldo García, is in a critical situation. He has not been arrested, but is in custody. Prosecutor Bertha María Mayor has said Thursday that he will later determine “when and if it is going to be prosecuted”. The driver’s family announced in the media that Garcia was transferred to another hospital and has claimed to the authorities that they turn to see the needs of the victims. “That they have more prepared to the hospitals where they are transferred so that there is a better possibility that they improve,” he added.

For its part, Brugada said Thursday that “all affected people are receiving health of different types and have moved from hospitals depending on their health status.” The head of the capital government has described the accident as “painful and unfortunate” and has assured that families will be supported and “total support”. “We tell them that they are not alone, the Government of Mexico City will support each of the families and we will have a process that guarantees that they can continue with their rights,” said the local authority, which has published in its networks the list of all those affected and their condition, as well as the hospital in which they are found.

Some of the injured have presented serious and very serious burns of up to 100% of their body, according to the details provided by the city government. Among the victims who have been identified, the ages go from one to 57 years and two of the deceased were 20 and 21 years old. It has also been reported that there is a pregnant patient.

Brugada has also announced that an initial emergency support will be given to correct expenses and facilitate that victims can move to attend family members. “We are going to deepen the census to locate families that face more difficult situations, such as cases in which the deceased person is who sustains economically.” He has also assured that legal advice and psychological accompaniment will be provided.

For her part, President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced this Thursday’s conference, that regularization of the transport of hazardous materials will be reviewed. “We must review the standards, how to make them comply. It is a practice that is done in all countries and that we are going to develop to see what characteristics the transport of this type of materials and substances has,” he said. Sheinbaum has also expressed her solidarity with the victims and has emphasized the need to determine the causes of the accident. “Where there are federal issues, to do the investigation. What happened yesterday is very tragic,” he said.

After the accident, the Security, Energy and Environment Agency (ASEA) issued a statement in which he explained that the semi -trailer involved is of the Silza transport company and pointed out that it did not have civil liability insurance policies or responsibility for environmental damage for transport permits.

The Silza company has responded on Thursday to the accusations with a statement that ensures that it does have valid insurance policies, including civil liability and environmental damage “among other specific coverage for the transport of hazardous materials.” On this matter, Brugada has indicated that the ASEA is reviewing whether the company had fouls or administrative sanctions. “May I know has no relationship with the government. We will be aware of what is investigated and determined,” he said.