Satipo morgue uses ice to preserve bodies amid refrigeration failure

Families in the province of Satipo, Junín region, are expressing outrage over the dire conditions at the local morgue, where bodies are being preserved with bags of ice due to malfunctioning refrigeration units. The cooling chambers have reportedly been out of order for three months, raising serious concerns about decomposition, especially in a region where temperatures can reach a minimum of 27°C.

Maribel Elizabeth Contreras, daughter of a mechanic who died in a traffic accident, highlighted the critical state of the facility. She stated that the two refrigeration units are inoperable, leading to a situation where the deceased are treated "worse than an animal." The family was forced to purchase ice to keep the body cool, a practice they deem "not fair."

This is not an isolated incident. According to TV Perú, the Satipo morgue experienced similar issues in 2024, leading to a month-long suspension of services. The recurring problems point to a systemic neglect of essential infrastructure for handling deceased individuals.

Adding to the distress, an intervention by the Ombudsman's office revealed further deficiencies. The morgue lacks adequate forensic personnel, with the only available staff member reportedly not working on weekends. This shortage prolongs the agonizing wait for families seeking to retrieve the remains of their loved ones, compounding their grief with bureaucratic and infrastructural hurdles.