The Government of the Principality of Asturias has verified that the block of homes in the Oviedo neighborhood of Villafría, the scene this Tuesday of a shooting and a subsequent explosion in which the deputy inspector of the National Police Juan José Rodríguez died, does not suffer structural damage. With this technical report, the regional Executive is working so that residents can return to their homes throughout this Wednesday.
The Minister of Land Planning, Urban Development, Housing and Citizen Rights, Ovidio Zapico, traveled this Wednesday to the building together with the Director General of Housing, Jesús Daniel Sánchez; the managing director of Vipasa, Marta Pulgar, and the City Councilor for Citizen Security in Oviedo, José Ramón Prado. This visit made it possible to formally take delivery of the property after the lifting of police custody and to begin the checks by the technical teams.
The building consists of twelve floors, of which eleven had to be temporarily evacuated after what happened. The technical review has concluded that the damage is located in the entrance and the exterior façade, without any effects being detected inside the homes.
The Director General of Housing has specified that the ongoing interventions are intended to restore normality as quickly as possible. "There is no structural damage and we are carrying out the actions necessary to mark off and make the affected area usable, so that the neighbors can return to their homes as soon as possible," Sánchez said.
Technicians estimate that the residents’ return may take place this afternoon, once the first superficial repairs are completed and the essential utilities are checked, including gas, which had not shown any prior incidents. While the definitive works on the façade and entrance are being completed, a temporary access will be enabled from the rear of the property to facilitate the entry and exit of residents.
After Tuesday’s events, the Directorate General of Housing, in coordination with the City Council’s social services, organized care for affected people. The occupants of five homes were housed in a hotel in Oviedo, and the rest were relocated to the homes of relatives. In addition, the regional authorities held an information meeting with the neighbors at the Otero social center.
Finally, Jesús Daniel Sánchez has stepped in to address the rumors that have arisen regarding the administrative situation of the building and has reiterated that there was no open file related to the home of the alleged perpetrator of the acts.