[CLSTR]
API
< Back to situations

Monitor this situation.

[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [INTERNATIONAL]

4 clusters · 14 sources · 5 days · First seen · Last updated

Uruguayan Army training accident in Uruguay River

Overview

On the night of October 29, 2026, three members of the Uruguayan Army died during a tactical diving exercise near Fray Bentos. The incident occurred during the 64th Tactical Diver Course while personnel were performing a nocturnal surface swimming drill in the Uruguay River.

During the drill, approximately 20 personnel were connected by a safety rope. A group became entangled with an underwater object, leading to the emergency cutting of the rope to prevent further casualties. This resulted in four soldiers being submerged. Three soldiers, identified as Alférez Matías Vasella, Cabo de Primera Carlos Leandro Gómez, and Cabo Juan Rocha, died in the accident. A fourth soldier, Lieutenant Braian Ruiz, was rescued and resuscitated. As of November 1, 2026, he was reported to be in stable condition and moving toward intermediate care.

Army Commander-in-Chief Mario Stevenazzi and Defense Minister Sandra Lazo have launched urgent administrative and judicial investigations. The inquiry, led by a general, aims to determine the cause of the entanglement, evaluate the adequacy of safety protocols, and examine the planning and emergency response of the exercise. While Stevenazzi stated there is no initial evidence of negligence, the investigation team was tasked with presenting preliminary findings within 48 hours.

Following the tragedy, President Yamandú Orsi and Defense Minister Sandra Lazo signed a decree declaring 48 hours of national mourning on November 3 and 4. By November 4, the Ministry of Defense confirmed it had received an urgent report containing technical elements to inform the administrative investigation, though the document remains confidential to protect the process and the families. Senator Javier García has called for transparency to identify any failures, requesting that the Senate Defense Commission coordinate with the Minister of Defense. Separately, the Attorney General's Office is conducting an independent investigation.

Entities

Matías Vasella · Fray Bentos · Sandra Lazo · Mario Stevenazzi · Yamandú Orsi

Timeline

  1. [POLITICS] 4 sources
    Uruguay Ministry of Defense receives urgent report on military deaths

    Uruguay's Ministry of Defense has received an urgent report following the deaths of three soldiers during a training exercise in Fray Bentos. An administrative and criminal investigation is underway.

  2. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Uruguay declares national mourning for three fallen military personnel

    Uruguay has decreed two days of national mourning on November 3 and 4 to honor three military members who died during a tactical diving exercise in Río Negro.

  3. [INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
    Uruguay Army investigation launched after three soldiers die in river accident

    Three Uruguayan soldiers died and one was injured during a tactical diver training exercise in the Uruguay River. An urgent military investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident.

  4. [INTERNATIONAL] 10 sources
    Uruguay Army investigates deaths of three soldiers during river training

    Three Uruguayan soldiers died and one remains in intensive care following a tactical diving accident during a night training exercise in the Uruguay River near Fray Bentos.

Sources

cableinformacion.com.ar · elacontecer.com.uy · elpueblodigital.uy · eltelegrafo.com · enperspectiva.net · impacto989.com.uy · noticiasdeleste.info · periodicovictoria.cu · quintoelemento.org · rionegroahora.com · teledoce.com · uruguayaldia.com.uy · visionmaritima.com.uy · world-today-journal.com

This summary has been updated 2 times: see revision history