Edward Vidal, the owner of a plastics company in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, has been taken into custody on charges of involuntary manslaughter.
The detention comes after an explosion on August 14, originating from the company’s premises, claimed 37 lives and injured 59 others.
The incident occurred less than 19 miles from the capital city, Santo Domingo.
Legal ramifications: A dual violation
Reports are that the public prosecutor’s office is holding Vidal responsible for violating both health and environmental laws.
Alongside him, his wife, Maribel Sandoval, and their daughter were also arrested during a police raid on Wednesday.
The prosecutor seeks one year of preventive detention for Vidal while exploring additional measures for his wife and daughter.
Read more on the Dominican Republic’s explosion
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Troubling precedents: Earlier warnings ignored?
A preliminary report released by firefighters indicates that the explosion’s epicenter was at the company’s headquarters “where there were accumulations of gasses and flammable materials, which, with sparks, ignition, heat or friction, could have generated the activation of the explosion.”
The firefighters said that in March the firm had filed a report noting the emission of highly reactive organic peroxide, which was subsequently ordered to be removed.
Devastating aftermath: Buildings and lives lost
The ramifications of the explosion extend beyond the immediate casualties.
Reports are that four buildings were completely destroyed, and nine others sustained significant damage.
The commercial area, once a bustling hub, is now slated for conversion into a municipal parking lot.
Identification of victims underway
Of the 37 individuals who lost their lives, only 15 have been positively identified and their remains returned to their families.
Identification for the remaining 22 bodies is ongoing, with some remains being too damaged for immediate recognition.
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