Mayor: Current measuring system “is like tossing a coin in the air”

SANTIAGO. -  The mayor of Santiago, Álvaro Erazo, has said that the current smog measurement system at the National Environmental Department (Conama) “is like tossing a coin in the air”, given the new error that drove metropolitan authorities to issue a pre-emergency environmental alert this Tuesday and then lift the measure after significant improvements in air ventilation were observed within the capital.

“Last night, this front was considered in the forecast systems that work to determine the air quality of the Metropolitan Region.  If I had been adequately informed that we were going to have rain showers this morning, I wouldn’t have approved the pre-emergency alert”, asserted Erazo.

The mayor assumed responsibility as “the principal regional authority” for the inconveniences caused to motorists after the pre-emergency alert was issued and assured that he would take it upon himself to improve “this system that has been failing us in recent years”.

Erazo reminded people that he has asked Conama for a report, given that there was no warning of the pre-emergency alert issued last Saturday, keeping the city from being able to declare the alert a day ahead of time.  On June 1st, the system registered 442 points of smog in municipality of Cerro Navia.