President of the League of Portuguese Firefighters, António Nunes, has called for the establishment of an independent technical commission to investigate the recent accident involving a firefighting vehicle in Odemira. This comes amid increasing doubts regarding the investigation being conducted by the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC), which owns the vehicle.
Context of the Incident
The accident occurred on Wednesday night, leading to the death of firefighter Dinis Conceição, aged 38, who was injured in the crash. He was airlifted to Hospital de São José in Lisbon but succumbed to his injuries on Friday. The crash left five other firefighters injured, with two still hospitalized and two others discharged.
Nunes emphasized the need for a transparent investigation to ensure that the findings are not questioned, given the pressures from social media and public opinion regarding the vehicle's safety. He noted that the LPB has documented 255 firefighter fatalities since 1980, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.
Ongoing Investigations
The ANEPC has already initiated an inquiry into the incident, which is standard procedure for accidents involving firefighting vehicles. Additionally, inspections are being carried out by the GNR's Criminal Investigation Unit to determine whether mechanical failure or human error caused the accident.
Nunes pointed out that there have been no previous safety complaints regarding the vehicle, but minor technical adjustments are planned for the coming days.
The tragedy has prompted condolences from various officials, including the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and the Minister of Internal Administration, Margarida Blasco, who attended the wake for the fallen firefighter.
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