The City of Mexicali reported one of the most polluted Christmas in the last years, according to city records
The City of Mexicali reported one of the most polluted Christmas days in recent history.
Redspira nonprofit organization said some areas reported contamination levels above 300 points Sunday morning.
The pollution was caused by the use of fireworks and the ignition of bonfires.
Pollution levels were considered as extremely bad and were a risk for local residents.
The nonprofit went beyond and asked residents to stay at home.
“Hopefully one day indignation leads us to stop doing things that affect the environment and our health and demand the authorities to implement significant strategies to prevent and control these situations,” Redspira said.
The nonprofit released a video that showed wide use of fireworks in the first minutes of Dec. 25.
City Environmental Protection Director Manuel Zamora called residents to use facemasks and stop using fireworks and igniting bonfires.
Authorities seize 125 kilograms of fireworks
Mexicali firefighters have seized 125 kilograms of fireworks in the last weeks.
Mexicali Fire Chief Ruben Dario Osuna told La Voz newspaper those fireworks were seized from street vendors and illegal stores that were reported by residents.
Chief Osuna told the newspaper seizures occur in remote areas and intersections where vendors leave fireworks after observing the authorities coming.
Those fireworks were presumably introduced from the US or the state of Sonora.
Fireworks, along with bonfires, led the city to record one of the most polluted Christmas Day in years, with some areas surpassing the 300 pollution points.
Seized fireworks were transported to the Fire Department Central Station for their eventual destruction by the Department of National Defense.
Osuna said the fire department had fewer emergency calls on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day than last year.
Those calls were related to the ignition of trash in abandoned homes, irrigation canals or empty lots.
Authorities prepare for New Year
City and state authorities seek to strengthen enforcement efforts in order to avoid air quality pollution from increasing during New Year celebrations.
Days ago the authorities met in order to prevent residents from using fireworks or igniting bonfires.
Last weekend, the city recorded the worst pollution in years for Christmas.
Mexicali Police Chief Pedro Ariel Mendívil said the goal is to reduce pollution by calling residents from using fireworks and igniting bonfires.
The police plan to assign 50 officers to the effort.
Chief Mendívil recalled that citations can lead to fines of up to $1,000 USD in Mexican currency.
The police chief also called residents to report any incidents at 9-1-1.
State Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development Mónica Vega said air quality has worsened in the last few days.
The state official assured that pollution has been caused by fireworks, trash burning and bonfires.
Sec. Vega said no authority will be enough to address the issue, so residents must collaborate to avoid impacting air quality.
So far, state health officials have not observed an increase in respiratory infections caused by pollution.
Mexicali Mayor Norma Bustamante said the authorities are collaborating in order to address any emergency caused by air pollution.
The authorities prepare enforcement efforts that include visits and patrolling to sites where fireworks are sold, as well as homes where bonfires are detected.
The city has held a close look at pollution levels that are transmitted to residents and lead to issuing warnings to the people, authorities said.
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