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[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [INTERNATIONAL]

4 clusters · 16 sources · 26 days · First seen · Last updated

Environmental damage in Pampa del Leoncito

Overview

An investigation continues in San Juan, Argentina, regarding environmental damage caused by nephrologist Agustín Añó, who drove a Toyota Hilux into the restricted Pampa del Leoncito area in Calingasta. The vehicle traveled approximately 1.5 kilometers through the sensitive Barreal Blanco sector, leaving ruts up to 25 centimeters deep in the clay-like soil.

As of early September, the vehicle remains trapped in the muddy terrain. National Gendarmerie personnel are guarding the site to prevent unauthorized removal attempts that might exacerbate the damage. Authorities are currently evaluating a recovery plan designed to extract the vehicle with minimal further impact on the ecosystem.

Legal proceedings are ongoing. During his defense before the Justice of the Peace of Calingasta, Añó argued that insufficient signage, darkness, and accumulated water led to the incident. However, Judge Andrés Troche noted that the area is marked with prohibitions and that Añó is familiar with the location.

Environmental experts warn that the damage to this delicate ecosystem is long-lasting; while previous estimates suggested recovery could take up to 100 years, recent studies indicate it may take approximately 80 years to naturally heal. In response to the incident, officials implemented a 30-day vehicular ban to allow the ground to stabilize and announced plans to reinforce security controls and install an information node.

In a recent ruling, Judge Andrés Troche ordered Agustín Añó and Pablo Abraham to pay more than 9.2 million pesos in fines for the damage. Each individual must pay a fine equivalent to 15 minimum provincial public administration salaries, totaling approximately 4,387,320 pesos per person. Additionally, Abraham was fined 456,800 pesos for intentionally bypassing a Gendarmería National control point. The vehicle has since been authorized for removal following a coordinated operation by environmental and security authorities.

Entities

Pampa del Leoncito · Agustín Añó · San Juan · Gendarmería Nacional · Andrés Troche

Timeline

  1. 7 days ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    San Juan judge imposes heavy fines for environmental damage in Pampa del Leoncito

    Two individuals were fined over 9.2 million pesos for causing long-term environmental damage to the protected Pampa del Leoncito in San Juan, Argentina, after driving a vehicle off-road.

  2. 8 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Pampa del Leoncito protected area vehicle recovery delayed

    A Toyota Hilux remains stuck in San Juan's Pampa del Leoncito protected area. Experts warn the environmental damage from the vehicle's tracks could take up to 80 years to recover.

  3. about 1 month ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 8 sources
    Pampa del Leoncito environmental damage investigation

    A doctor is under investigation in San Juan, Argentina, after his vehicle caused environmental damage to the Pampa del Leoncito natural site.

  4. about 1 month ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 7 sources
    Pampa del Leoncito suffers severe environmental damage from illegal vehicle entry

    A doctor caused severe environmental damage to San Juan's Pampa del Leoncito after driving a truck into restricted, soft clay terrain, leaving tracks that could take up to 100 years to recover.

Sources

adnsur.com.ar · canal13sanjuan.com · diariondi.com · elmonterizo.com · elsol.com.ar · eltrabajo.cl · ep01.epimg.net · es.mercopress.com · fm899.com.ar · mediosrioja.com.ar · mejorinformado.com · mendozatoday.com.ar · pcworld.es · somoscordobeses.com · tiemposur.com.ar · tucsinfiltro.com.ar

This summary has been updated 2 times: see revision history