Two companies are judged by the spillage of cyanide in the River Deba and the death of thousands of fish in the River Oxintxo stretch in Bergara. The Prosecutor’s Office of Gipuzkoa has applied for a year and a half prison sentence for each, and in addition to the prison sentence, the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa has applied for compensation of EUR 200,000. The court proceedings have ended on Thursday and are awaiting the judgment.

According to the sampling carried out between Bergara and Soraluze, more than 23,000 loins and more than 46,500 chips died.

The Forest Guards of Gipuzkoa noticed the discharges on February 12, 2018, when they found dead fish on the river bank. After the warning, studies by the Basque Water Agency concluded that the fish had been killed.

The defendants are responsible for a galvanized workshop and according to the studies found cyanide in different places in their facilities. They report that the cyanide was in three sinks, one of which is also connected to the river. The Ertzaintza considers that there was a flood in the plant that caused the cyanide to pour into the river.

At the trial, the workers of the company testified that in their productions cyanides were not used. The maintenance officer says the same thing. An ertzaina who participated in the investigation has highlighted that the company did not have permission to use the cyanide.