TEGUCIGALPA – This afternoon, the first group of experts from Chile’s Legal Medical Service (Servicio Médico Legal), or SML, arrived in Honduras to collaborate in the identification of the victims of the Comayagua prison, where a fire left more than 350 inmates dead.
Their arrival was confirmed by the Minister of Justice, Patricia Pérez, who hopes that the four experts who left early this morning will be able to start their work immediately.
The remaining eight professionals will arrive in Honduras tomorrow, and will collaborate with local authorities on how to best use their skills to help out however they can.
“The Servicio Médico Legal and the Civil Registry are both services of the Ministry of Justice, which has gained experience in tragedies, not only what occurred in San Miguel prison, but also in other unfortunate events that have afflicted the country, such as the earthquake and the tragedy of Juan Fernández,” said the Minister on Chilean TV station Canal 13.
The group of 14 specialists, two of which belong to the Civil Registry, will stay in Honduras for approximately two weeks. Among them are thanatologists, forensic orthodontists and biochemists who will investigate the tremendous loss of life at the prison.
The director of SML, Patricio Bustos, explained that “the identification process would involve fingerprint analysis, forensic dentistry, or, if neccessary, comprehensive genetic screening.”
Of the 820 prisoners that were housed in the prison, only 475 survived the blaze. These figures may change before too long, since there are several critically injured people still in intensive care at the hospital.
The Honduran government has declared three days of national mourning and President Porfirio Lobo ordered various government agencies to provide the assistance to the police and prosecutors.
The government of Chile has expressed its condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, and their hopes and prayers for a quick recovery for the wounded.
President Piñera had a telephone conversation with President Lobo in which he expressed solidarity among the Chilean and Honduran people during this tragedy.
February 16, 2012
http://ilovechile.cl/2012/02/16/chile-experts-honduras-investigate-prison-disaster/48363
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