No one has given us any support, moral or economic
En una noche de fin de semana en Trujillo, el techo de un patio de comidas cedió bajo el peso de años de decisiones no supervisadas, matando a seis personas —entre ellas una niña de dos años— e hiriendo a más de ochenta. Seis meses después, el centro comercial permanece cerrado, los negocios vecinos languidecen y las familias esperan no solo compensación, sino el reconocimiento de que una vida no puede resolverse con un número de contacto. Lo que quedó al descubierto entre los escombros no fue solo metal oxidado y pernos inadecuados, sino la fragilidad de los sistemas de responsabilidad cuando cada parte señala a la siguiente.
- Un techo que sostenía la vida cotidiana de una ciudad se derrumbó en segundos, convirtiendo una salida familiar de fin de semana en una escena de duelo que aún no termina.
- Las contradicciones entre el consorcio constructor, la firma supervisora y el ingeniero diseñador revelan un vacío de responsabilidad donde cada actor niega haber ordenado los pernos equivocados que causaron la tragedia.
- Un joven futbolista perdió la pierna y a su pareja en el mismo instante; seis meses después, su prima describe a un hombre hundido en la culpa, sostenido apenas por promesas de cobertura médica y un número telefónico.
- Real Plaza afirma haber alcanzado 181 acuerdos de compensación, pero la familia de Harumi Carbajal dice que nadie del mall se acercó a ellos con apoyo, información ni condolencias.
- El centro comercial permanece cerrado indefinidamente, H&M ya anunció su salida, y el distrito comercial que lo rodeaba —pollerías, restaurantes, vendedores ambulantes— ha quedado en silencio.
- La municipalidad de Trujillo avanza con una inspección independiente del edificio e intensifica controles en otros locales comerciales, mientras la reapertura del mall espera el cierre de la investigación fiscal.
Hace casi seis meses, el techo del patio de comidas de Real Plaza Trujillo se desplomó un sábado por la noche. Murieron seis personas: el policía John Percy Chávez Valeriano, su esposa Daniela de La Cruz Ramos, su hija de dos años, y tres personas más. Más de ochenta resultaron heridas. Entre los hospitalizados estaba Johan Rodríguez, un joven futbolista que perdió la pierna. Su novia, Harumi Carbajal, de veintiún años y a punto de terminar su carrera de contabilidad, murió desangrada bajo los escombros.
El mall no ha vuelto a abrir. H&M anunció su retiro, y el distrito comercial que alguna vez bullía de actividad —restaurantes, tiendas pequeñas, vendedores— ha quedado prácticamente vacío. Solo los locales nocturnos cercanos continúan operando.
Las investigaciones apuntan a una cadena de decisiones fallidas. El ingeniero que diseñó la ampliación en 2015 encontró en los restos pernos de menor diámetro y con signos de oxidación, distintos a los de alta capacidad que él habría recomendado. El consorcio constructor afirma haber instalado el acero aprobado por la firma supervisora. Esa firma reconoció haber autorizado modificaciones menores, pero admitió que no realizó seguimiento tras la obra. Ingenieros independientes coinciden: los pernos incorrectos y corroídos causaron el colapso.
Real Plaza sostiene haber brindado apoyo económico, médico y psicológico, y haber alcanzado 181 acuerdos de compensación. Pero la prima de Harumi dijo en febrero que ningún representante del mall se acercó a su familia. "Nadie nos ha dado apoyo, ni moral ni económico", declaró. No buscan dinero, aclaró, sino justicia para que el caso no caiga en el olvido. Por su parte, el primo de Johan describió a un joven profundamente deprimido, que siente culpa por no haber podido salvar a Harumi.
La municipalidad de Trujillo anunció una inspección independiente del edificio y ha intensificado los controles en otros locales comerciales. Cualquier reapertura del mall permanece suspendida hasta que concluya la investigación del Ministerio Público. La ciudad espera. Las familias, también.
Nearly six months have passed since the food court ceiling at Real Plaza Trujillo gave way on a weekend evening, and the mall sits empty. Six people died in the collapse—a police officer named John Percy Chávez Valeriano, his wife Daniela de La Cruz Ramos, their two-year-old daughter, and three others: Harumi Carbajal Velásquez, Yekill Iparraguirre Palomino, and José Santa María Jara Arroyo. More than eighty others were injured. Twelve required hospitalization for serious wounds. Among them was a young footballer, Johan Rodríguez, who lost his leg. His girlfriend, Harumi Carbajal, bled to death beneath the rubble.
The mall has not reopened. Tenants have begun to leave—H&M announced its withdrawal—and the surrounding commercial district, once crowded with foot traffic and street vendors, has emptied. Pollerías, Chinese restaurants, small shops: all have felt the weight of closure. Only the nightclubs nearby continue to operate. The zone that once hummed with commerce now sits quiet.
Investigators have found contradictions at the heart of the failure. The civil engineer who designed the 2015 expansion, Julio Rivera Feijóo, examined the bolts recovered from the wreckage and found them unsuitable—not the high-capacity A325 model recommended for heavy loads, but smaller diameter fasteners showing signs of rust. He said he was never consulted about changes to his plans or the materials ultimately used. The construction consortium Activa BGS and its partner BGS Ingenieros denied receiving any directive to use A325 bolts, claiming they installed A36 steel approved by the supervising firm Schmidt Chávez Tafur Ingenieros. That firm acknowledged authorizing what it called minor modifications but admitted it did not monitor the work after completion. Independent engineers agree: the wrong bolts, corroded and undersized, caused the collapse.
Real Plaza has released a statement saying it has provided economic, medical, and psychological support to those affected, reaching 181 compensation agreements. The company says it is covering all costs for Jhosmar Rodríguez's specialized medical care abroad. It has promised to pursue legal action against those responsible and called for a swift investigation.
But the families tell a different story. Yuri Carbajal, Harumi's cousin, said in February that no representative from the mall approached them with help, information, or even condolences. "No one has given us any support, moral or economic," she said. She clarified that her family is not seeking money—despite rumors circulating on social media—but justice, so the case does not fade. Harumi was twenty-one and finishing her accounting degree. The only entity that offered any real support was the company where she worked, which operated inside the mall.
Jhosmar Rodríguez, the footballer who lost his leg, is struggling. His cousin Diandra Ponce Cruz said in February that he is deeply depressed, feeling guilty that he could not save Harumi. "He says he has lost everything," she said. They received one notification indicating that expenses would be covered and providing a contact number, but little else.
The Trujillo municipal government has announced a new inspection of the building, to be conducted by its Risk Management office. Officials requested copies of construction permits and authorizations from the Public Ministry to determine responsibility. The inspection will proceed independently, not at the mall's request. Before scheduling the operation, officials say they must review the complete file to assess current conditions and set a date. Any reopening remains suspended until the Public Ministry concludes its investigation. Meanwhile, the municipality has intensified inspections of other commercial and entertainment venues to verify compliance with safety certification requirements. Some establishments already failing to meet standards are at risk of losing their permits.
Citas Notables
No one has given us any support, moral or economic. We are not asking for money—we want justice so this case does not go unpunished.— Yuri Carbajal, cousin of victim Harumi Carbajal
He says he has lost everything. He feels guilty because he was with Harumi and could not save her.— Diandra Ponce Cruz, cousin of Jhosmar Rodríguez, the footballer who lost his leg
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why does a mall stay closed six months after an accident? Isn't there pressure to reopen and recover losses?
The investigation is still active. The Public Ministry hasn't determined who is responsible—the builders, the supervisors, the engineers. Until that's settled, reopening exposes the company to enormous liability. It's safer to stay dark.
But the surrounding businesses are collapsing. The vendors, the restaurants, the shops. They're not the ones being investigated.
That's the cruelty of it. A zone dies because one building failed. H&M leaves. The pollerías close. The people who had nothing to do with the construction lose their livelihoods.
What about the families? Has the company actually helped them?
Real Plaza says it has reached 181 compensation agreements and is covering medical care. But Harumi's family says no one from the company ever came to them. They didn't get a phone call, a visit, anything. They learned about support through a notification.
And the young man who lost his leg?
Jhosmar is in a specialized facility abroad, paid for by Real Plaza. But his cousin says he's depressed, feels guilty he couldn't save his girlfriend. Money doesn't fix that. Justice might matter more to them than compensation.
Will there be justice?
That depends on whether the investigation can untangle the contradictions. The engineers blame the builders for using the wrong bolts. The builders blame the supervisors. The supervisors say they approved what they were told to approve. Someone has to be held accountable.