By Dave Graham and Diego Oré

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – An auditor’s third report on a lethal Mexico Metropolis metro accident final 12 months for the primary time recognized upkeep shortcomings as one in all 4 causes of the collapse of the rail overpass, in keeping with an unpublished model of the examine seen by Reuters.

A Mexico Metropolis official accustomed to the doc confirmed the authenticity of the report by Norwegian agency DNV, which was produced on the behest of town’s authorities to find out the reason for the crash that killed 26 folks.

It was meant to be the final of the auditor’s three experiences for the reason that Could 3, 2021, crash on the Line 12 metro service, and it was the primary one to quote upkeep as a essential trigger, in keeping with a Reuters evaluate of the research printed by town.

Spanish newspaper El Pais printed particulars of the report on Monday. Reuters was unable to determine who leaked the report and for what cause.

The report identifies what it calls 4 “obstacles” which, had they been in place, would have prevented the overpass collapse. Three associated to the design, building and technique of supervising the works.

The final level addressed upkeep. In its findings, DNV mentioned it had obtained “no proof” that the required inspections on the metro line had been carried out.

In line with the DNV report, the upkeep handbook for the Line 12 stipulates that inspections of the construction are carried out quarterly, semi-annually and yearly relying on how previous the elements are.

“The failure to conduct inspections of the viaduct and cling to the inspection necessities of the upkeep handbook is a root explanation for the failure,” the ultimate report states.

Who precisely is answerable for performing the inspection work was “not clearly specified,” it mentioned.

What precipitated the accident is politically delicate as a result of the road was constructed when International Minister Marcelo Ebrard was mayor of town from 2006 to 2012, and it collapsed 2 1/2 years into the time period of the present mayor, Claudia Sheinbaum.

The 2 are among the many prime contenders to turn into Mexico’s subsequent president when elections are held in 2024, opinion polls present.

The report has but to be made public as a result of Sheinbaum’s administration – which employed DNV – has rejected the findings, saying they had been biased and the methodology flawed.

Sheinbaum, who entered metropolis corridor in December 2018, informed a information convention on Monday the ultimate DNV report had a “political bias.”

To help her declare, she reiterated her assertion that the agency used a lawyer prejudiced in opposition to the federal government to assist craft the report, and mentioned that DNV had leaked the findings, breaching a confidentiality settlement.

Town beforehand recognized the lawyer as Hector Salomon Galindo, who held jobs within the earlier authorities. He couldn’t be reached for remark.

Sheinbaum additionally mentioned on Monday upkeep of the road had not been an issue and that the inspection logs had been public.

DNV final week in a press release defended its findings and methodology, and responded to Sheinbaum’s assertions in regards to the lawyer by saying the report was produced with out the involvement of anybody with a battle of curiosity.

DNV didn’t reply to a request for touch upon Monday. It additionally didn’t reply to repeated requests for touch upon particulars of the leaked examine or why upkeep points weren’t flagged within the earlier experiences made public by town.

Sheinbaum, who final week referred to as the report “poor, poorly executed, with technical issues, tendentious and mistaken,” mentioned town was within the technique of terminating DNV’s contract and submitting a lawsuit in opposition to the agency, as a result of it had diverged from the methodology agreed in its contract.

Requested for remark in regards to the leaked report’s findings forward of Monday’s information convention, the mayor’s workplace mentioned the briefing would set out town’s place.

Ebrard’s ministry mentioned it had no touch upon the media experiences. The workplace of his successor as mayor, Miguel Mancera, didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Though the report turned public this week, the copy seen by Reuters was dated Oct. 28. Reuters was unable to establish whether or not it was later revised.