The Presidential Delegation of the Metropolitan Region has declared an environmental alert for the capital for this Friday, May 29. As reported by latercera.com, the measure is a response to poor ventilation conditions forecast for the Santiago basin and current pollution levels in the area.
This decision, recommended by the Regional Ministerial Secretariat (Seremi) for the Environment, aims to protect public health against the buildup of pollutants. According to the report, air quality at the Ministry of the Environment's monitoring stations currently ranges between "fair" and "good."
The weather forecast indicates a surface cyclonic circulation and an upper-level ridge moving into the area. Temperatures are expected to range from 4ºC to 23ºC (39ºF to 73ºF), conditions that prevent the effective dispersion of gases within the basin.
Restrictions and preventive measures
Given the situation, authorities have banned the use of wood-burning heaters and wood-based fuels throughout the Metropolitan Region, with the exception of pellet-burning stoves. Additionally, it was reiterated that agricultural burning remains prohibited across the entire region from March 1 through October 31.
Vehicle restrictions will follow the standard schedule set by the transport authority. For vehicles with a "green seal" (catalytic converters), the measure applies to license plates ending in 6 and 7 within the Américo Vespucio beltway and throughout the provinces of Santiago, Puente Alto, and San Bernardo between 7:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Vehicles without a green seal face stricter prohibitions. The restriction applies to all such vehicles inside the Américo Vespucio beltway, while those with plates ending in 2, 3, 4, and 5 are barred from circulating outside the beltway and within the communes of San Bernardo and Puente Alto.
The regulations also impact other forms of transport. Motorcycles with plates ending in 6 and 7 are prohibited from circulating in the provinces of Santiago, San Bernardo, and Puente Alto. Meanwhile, private, intercity, and rural buses with plates ending in 2, 3, 4, and 5 are banned from these same zones between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Finally, cargo vehicles without a green seal and plates ending in 2, 3, 4, and 5 are restricted from circulating within the Américo Vespucio beltway between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
