The Institute of Legal Medicine of Tenerife is currently facing a distressing situation, with around fifty corpses accumulating in its facilities. The smell has become unbearable for forensic doctors and officials, especially in the area where the remains are located. Many of the bodies are of deceased migrants who perished during the crossing or after completing the so-called Canary Route from Africa. Autopsies have been performed on these bodies, but they are yet to leave the building for burial or cremation, as the court order has not arrived to allow their release.
As a result, protests have been raised by the Strike Committee of the Institute of Legal Medicine, calling for better management and greater transparency. They are also demanding the dismissal of the director, Jesús Vega González, as a preliminary step to a new operating system for the entity. Vega González confirmed that there are more bodies in the facilities than there should be, and clarified that they can only be released with judicial authorization.
The lack of space and resources has led to a collapse in the facilities and an unbearable smell in the areas close to where the bodies are stored. The preservation chambers are not equipped to keep bodies for extended periods, leading to a progressive process of decomposition and deterioration. There have been instances where bodies are left on autopsy tables due to the lack of space, and some have been stored in chambers owned by funeral homes.
Additionally, the Institute of Legal Medicine faces a scarcity of human resources and material means, with only three autopsy assistants covering four islands. The shortage of professionals has led to delays in the analysis of corpses and extrajudicial files, causing a backlog in the processing of cases.
The Strike Committee has pointed out the alleged lack of transparency in the work of Jesús Vega González, and there is an open judicial file in relation to the granting and payment of guard services at the provincial level. The situation at the Institute of Legal Medicine is a cause for concern and requires immediate attention and resolution.