Andorra Police submit 'La Querola' fire investigation report to court after more than 40 days

Andorra Police have completed and submitted the technical investigation report into the fire at the La Querola residential complex in Ordino to the country's judicial authorities, known as the Batllia, following more than 40 days of investigation.

The report contains the findings of the investigation launched on September 24, the day of the fire, with the cooperation of firefighters and the Andorran Government's Department of Industry.

According to RTVA, the case now enters a new judicial phase in which the Batllia will assess whether there is evidence of a criminal offence and determine any potential legal responsibilities arising from the fire, including matters involving insurance companies.

Meanwhile, access to the residential complex remains prohibited. Developers, insurers, engineers and architects are waiting for judicial authorisation to enter the premises and begin recovery work.

Developers still unable to estimate the cost of rebuilding La Querola

Although preliminary preparations for the complex's rehabilitation began in early October, there is still no official estimate of the damage or a confirmed date for construction and restoration work to resume.

Those responsible for the development hope the situation will be resolved soon and insist they are ready to act as soon as the court grants permission.

"We will enter the very minute they tell us we can," the developers stated, reaffirming their commitment to restoring the residential complex.

They hope the proceedings can move away from the criminal courts and continue through civil proceedings, arguing that the fire caused no personal injuries and that they believe it was accidental.

However, whether the incident was accidental and whether any legal responsibility exists remain matters for judicial assessment.

Cause of the La Querola fire remains unconfirmed

One of the most important unanswered questions concerns the exact origin of the fire.

The developers have explained that they have not yet received the official conclusions of the police investigation, meaning they cannot confirm what caused the blaze.

An initial theory suggested that the fire may have started from a small remaining ember at the rear of the residential complex.

However, this hypothesis has not been officially confirmed, and the findings of the police report have not yet been made public.

The circumstances surrounding the incident will therefore remain uncertain until the judicial investigation establishes what happened.

Judicial investigation could continue for years

With the police report now submitted, the Batllia has the initial documentation needed to advance the investigation.

The judge overseeing the case may request additional witness statements, commission expert examinations and seek further technical documentation to determine whether there is evidence of criminal wrongdoing.

If investigators find no indications of criminal liability, the criminal proceedings could be closed, allowing issues concerning property damage and insurance compensation to continue through civil proceedings.

The judge may also order an expert assessment to establish the financial extent of the damage before authorising further restoration work.

Physical reconstruction of the La Querola complex could begin before all legal and insurance matters are definitively resolved, as the judicial proceedings have no fixed completion date and could potentially extend over several years.

For now, the future of the damaged residential development depends on the Batllia's next decisions and the authorisation required for technicians and construction teams to return to the site.