Deputy Demands Accountability for 8.6 Million Peso Sports Complex Collapse in Ciudad Juárez
Chihuahua, Chihuahua – August 17, 2026 – State Deputy Xóchitl Contreras, speaking from the State Congress, has publicly demanded that the municipal president of Ciudad Juárez provide a full explanation for the collapse of a structure at the Salvárcar Sports Complex. This incident involves a significant public investment of 8.6 million pesos in a facility that has not yet been formally inaugurated, raising serious concerns about public safety and accountability.
The legislator emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “We are not talking about just any construction; we are talking about a sports complex, the Salvárcar Sports Complex, a space specifically designed to welcome families, young people, girls, and boys.” Contreras criticized the initial celebratory tone of the project’s unveiling versus the current situation.
Questions Arise Over Project Quality and Safety
“We must acknowledge something about the municipal president: they were very good at cutting the ribbon and boasting about an 8.6 million peso sports complex. What they weren’t so good at was building it, because it only took a gust of wind for a structure of the Salvárcar Sports Complex to end up on the ground,” Contreras stated, highlighting the stark contrast between the project’s promotion and its evident structural vulnerabilities.
The deputy challenged the preliminary explanation that attributed the collapse solely to wind. “If it was the wind, let them prove it technically. Because we are talking about the Salvárcar Sports Complex, a place that families, young people, and children would frequent. What would have happened if that structure had collapsed with the complex full? Who would have been responsible for a tragedy?” she questioned, underscoring the potential for catastrophic consequences.
Contreras firmly rejected the simplistic explanation. “We cannot accept that the explanation is simply ‘it was the wind.’ An 8.6 million peso sports project must be designed to protect the people who are going to use it. The Salvárcar Sports Complex is not an ornament for a photograph: it is a space for our families and our young people,” she affirmed, advocating for robust construction standards and public safety.
Near Miss Highlights Urgent Safety Concerns
Xóchitl Contreras warned that the incident could easily have escalated into a tragedy if the Salvárcar Sports Complex had been open to the public at the time of the collapse. “The fact that there are no injured people does not mean that the work was well done; it means we were lucky. A wall can be rebuilt. A structure can be re-erected. But a life cannot be rebuilt. Imagine if this had happened during an afternoon of activities at the Salvárcar Sports Complex, with families, girls, boys, and young people playing sports. Today we would be talking about a tragedy,” she asserted, emphasizing the irreplaceable value of human life.
Call for Transparency and Investigation
From the State Congress, the legislator demanded that the municipal president provide full transparency regarding all information related to the construction of the Salvárcar Sports Complex. “First they promise, then they boast and cut the ribbon; when failures appear, the excuses begin. But here we are talking about a sports complex, a space that should be safe for our families, our young people, and our children,” she declared, calling for a thorough and open investigation.
Contreras also questioned the absence of Mayor Cruz Pérez Cuéllar, who had taken a leave of absence to pursue a gubernatorial candidacy. The deputy insisted that the case must be thoroughly investigated, as the Salvárcar Sports Complex is intended to serve the community, not endanger it.
Finally, the deputy reiterated her commitment to seeking answers from the State Congress. “This time it’s not about who cut the ribbon. It’s about who will respond if tomorrow, with the Salvárcar Sports Complex full of families, young people, and children, something like this happens again. Let’s not wait for a tragedy to happen before we look for those responsible,” she concluded, urging proactive measures and accountability.
