Representatives of the Public Health Center, the National Food Safety Agency and of the Chisinau Trade Division didn’t notice the gas cylinder in the café “La soacra”, located near the Central Market of Chisinau, where a blast occurred. According to the preliminary report of the investigation, during nine months the café worked without an authorization, while employees of the Emergencies Service haven’t examined it since 2013 because they didn’t have the right to do this. The results of the preliminary report were presented by the Chisinau Health Division’s head Mihai Moldovanu in the February 15 meeting of officials of Chisinau services and divisions, IPN reports.
According to Mihai Moldovanu, the stove was connected to gas cylinders. “I spoke to employees of the café. These said that the stove was never changed and there was permanently smell of gas there. The owners of the café knew about this,” he stated.
Mayor of Chisinau Dorin Chirtoaca said he anticipated such findings and if these are confirmed, at least the persons who were at the place will be held accountable for ignoring the presence of the large stove and of the gas cylinders. “It’s impossible not to see these. The question is now how the superiors of those who inspected the place can be punished for not knowing or for being misled,” he stated, asking that the person responsible for the verification of the technological project of the cafe should be identified.
Four persons died as a result of the gas cylinder blast that occurred in the café on January 9. Overall, about 20 persons were hurt in the explosion, with 13 of them being hospitalized in a serious and critical state.
