Prosecutors have sent four defendants to trial, including a public institution, in connection with the fire on January 29, 2021, at the Matei Balș Institute.

The prosecutors of the Bucharest Tribunal's Prosecutor's Office announced on Tuesday the referral to trial of four defendants, following the devastating fire on January 29, 2021, which took place in Pavilion V of the 'Prof. Dr. Matei Balș' National Institute of Infectious Diseases.

The investigation established that 9 of the 26 deaths that occurred after the incident are directly related to the fire. The research revealed that, despite sanitary regulations prohibiting the use of electric heating sources in rooms with active oxygen, 11 air heaters and 8 electric radiators were introduced, with the tolerance of the medical staff. The fire was caused by the contact of textile materials with an air heater. The defendants are accused of destruction through negligence and abuse of office, and the case has been forwarded to the Bucharest Sector 2 Court. The investigation highlighted a series of negligence and irregularities in managing the emergency situation, which contributed to the amplification of the tragedy.