Mayor: Authorization granted to enter Chaitén is "irresponsible"

SANTIAGO.-  The Mayor of Chaitén, José Miguel Fritis, referred to the Supreme Court decision to allow access to the town devastated by the volcanic eruption and flooding of the Blanco River, calling it “absolutely irresponsible”.

During a conversation with Radio Cooperativa, the mayor stated, “article 41 of the Constitution needs to be applied”, since the first priority is to “look after the lives of the people”. 

Yesterday, more than 400 evacuees were forced to return to Puerto Montt and Castro without being able to salvage their possessions due to a windstorm that kept them from debarking the boats they were traveling in.

Additionally, waves caused a small vessel carrying five passengers on their way to Chaitén to flip over.