Police investigators have found evidence of negligence by four entities in the deaths of 64 people, all victims of the June 2017 fires that started at Pedrógão Grande and swept through densely planted eucalyptus forests.
According to Correio da Manhã, the investigating PJ officers have a case against the Civil Protection agency, the GNR personnel who ordered motorists to use the EN236-1 and Ascendi, the company responsible for maintenance of the roadsides.
The investigation is being monitored by the Public Prosecutor in Coimbra and already has seen almost 100 witnesses interviewed. This has enabled the police to build up a picture of a series of failures that caused the death of 64 people.
According to the newspaper, the Public Prosecution Service of Coimbra next will proceed with charges of negligent homicide.
The fire that broke out in Pedrógão Grande, Leiria, on June 17th caused at least 64 deaths and left more than 200 people injured, some of whom are still in hospital over a month later.
The fire took a week to extinguish and involved over 2,000 firefighters and support personnel. The flames consumed 53,000 hectares of forest and spread into the neighbouring district of Castelo Branco.
The goal of the investigators is that the process is completed later this year. As for the causes of the fire, the police should maintain the conclusion that it was not set deliberately.
