23/06/2026 10:38 - Judiciales
This Monday marked the resumption of a crucial hearing regarding the destruction of the ARA San Juan submarine, a tragedy that shook Argentina on November 15, 2017. The Federal Oral Court of Comodoro Rivadavia—located in the Patagonian region of southern Argentina—heard the beginning of the prosecution's arguments. The court is presided over by judges Mario Reynaldi, Enrique Baronetto, Luis Alberto Giménez, and Guillermo Adolfo Quadrini.
The prosecution team, consisting of lawyers Gastón Franco Pruzan, Lucas Colla, Julio Zárate, and María Andrea Garmendia Orueta, presented detailed evidence of technical failures, breaches of duty, and the specific responsibilities of the four accused high-ranking officers.
For international context, the accused held significant command positions within the Argentine Navy (Armada Argentina). The prosecution argues they failed in their duties regarding the safety and maintenance of the vessel.
| Accused Officer | Role at Time of Tragedy |
|---|---|
| Luis Enrique López Mazzeo | Head of the Command for Training and Readiness (COAA) |
| Claudio Javier Villamide | Head of the Submarine Force Command (COFS) and Operational Control Authority |
| Hugo Correa | Head of the Submarine Communications Center (CENCOMSUB) |
| Héctor Aníbal Alonso | Chief of Staff of COFS and Readiness Evaluation Officer |
The prosecution detailed that the Submarine ARA San Juan departed on October 25, 2017 from the Naval Base in Mar del Plata (a major coastal city) bound for Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego. Crucially, it set sail in deficient technical-operational conditions.
Nov 14, 2017 (22:35-23:42): Seawater entered through the ventilation system into the No. 3 battery tank, causing a short circuit and fire.
Nov 15, 2017 (10:51): The vessel lost control and imploded after exceeding its collapse depth.
Wreckage located on Nov 17, 2018, at a depth of 907 meters (approx. 2,975 feet).
Prosecutor Gastón Franco Pruzan opened the arguments, explaining the dynamics of the case and developing the accusation against López Mazzeo. Mazzeo had assumed command of the COAA in February 2017 and issued the Operations Order COFLOMAR N°14/17 on October 19, 2017.
Subsequently, Prosecutor Julio Zárate detailed the specific repairs that were never carried out on the submarine, presenting documentation with precise dates. Prosecutor Lucas Colla outlined the specific functions of the accused within the Argentine Navy, supporting the case with witness and expert testimonies.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
