3 Arrested In Dominican Republic As Part Of Investigation Into Explosion That Killed 34

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Three persons were arrested in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday as part of an ongoing investigation into a huge explosion at a plastics plant earlier this month that killed at least 34 people.

According to a government official who was not authorized to speak to the media, those arrested include the company’s owner and his wife.

According to a preliminary assessment received by the AP from the firefighting department, the explosion was caused by an accumulation of extremely flammable gases that could have been formed by the plastics and organic peroxide material held at the facility.

Vidal Plast recycles, sells, and buys plastic material.

Three persons were arrested in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday as part of an ongoing investigation into a huge explosion.

Authorities earlier stated that they had proof that a spark and a chemical substance caused a fire at the business in March and that the corporation did not take any precautions “despite knowing the high risk of its operations.”

The attorney for those arrested, Norberto Rondón, told reporters Wednesday that the company had been closed since May and accused the country’s firefighting department of publishing a preliminary report full of “lies and half-truths.”

It is the first arrest in the case, and authorities still identify victims, while another 60 individuals are being treated for injuries.

The explosion happened on August 14 in San Cristobal, a bustling business center just west of Santo Domingo’s capital. It took three days for firemen to put out the fire.

SOURCE – (AP)