“ENAMI is a company with many years of operation, and it is crucial to determine whether they have been updating the equipment and infrastructure managing these hazardous materials, as we cannot allow the Atacama community to be exposed to risks due to operational negligence,” the legislator added.

Meanwhile, Senator Yasna Provoste (DC) warned that in light of this series of errors, ENAMI must provide information on how they have utilized capital resources intended to enhance and upgrade its facilities, including El Salado.

For the parliamentarian, this was an emergency concerning hazardous materials that placed the communities of El Salado, Diego de Almagro, and Chañaral at risk. “We need to know who was responsible,” emphasized the senator.

In that context, Provoste raised several concerns after reviewing the protocols, one being why ENAMI did not allow the El Salado firefighters to enter and manage the emergency at their facilities.

“The volunteers had to remain outside, unable to aid the community. The big question is why ENAMI does not have its own specialized brigade and instead outsources this critical service,” the DC legislator stated, concluding that it is vital to know “how long it took for the specialized team to reach El Salado, as valuable time was lost while the population was at risk.”

Meanwhile, the Environmental Superintendency (SMA) has initiated an investigation into the reported incidents at ENAMI’s facility, announcing that its inspectors in Atacama conducted a field inspection in collaboration with Sernageomin and the Health Authority, reviewing storage tanks and transportation ducts, among other matters.

The Superintendency will continue its efforts to gather all necessary information as part of the ongoing investigation,” they affirmed.

El Ciudadano