A large water storage tank belonging to the National Institute of Potable Water and Sewage (Inapa) collapsed early Wednesday morning, 5 November 2025 in the La Mina community of Consuelo municipality, injuring five residents and cutting off water service to at least 12 nearby areas, Noticias SIN reports.
The accident, which occurred around 7:50am while residents were starting their daily routines, sent a torrent of water and debris crashing onto surrounding homes and streets. Local officials confirmed that the collapse happened despite repeated pleas and warnings from the community to INAPA authorities regarding the tank’s dangerous, long-term deterioration.
Witnesses and community leaders reported that the water tank had been problematic for over a year, suffering from constant, unresolved leaks that were consistently reported to Inapa.
The structure’s failure directly impacted five people (four adults and one minor) who suffered multiple lacerations and blunt force trauma. Authorities at the local hospital confirmed that all five received medical attention and were subsequently released, being officially out of danger.
The president of the local community voiced the collective frustration, emphasizing that the tragedy was preventable. “That tank had problems for a long time; it didn’t have to reach this scale,” he stated, urging authorities to implement preventative measures immediately to avoid future accidents.
Following the incident, Inapa and the Ministry of Public Works began an immediate assessment and technical investigation to determine the exact cause of the structural failure and evaluate the full extent of the damage to public and private property.
Meanwhile, potable water service remains interrupted in the affected communities until safe supply conditions can be restored. The collapse in Consuelo underscores the critical need for stricter supervision of public utility infrastructure and a more responsive approach to citizens’ warnings regarding safety risks.
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Noticias SIN
Diario Libre
6 November 2025