75 people, including around 50 school children, were poisoned on Tuesday by sulphur dioxide released in central-western Chile. An environmental emergency has been declared in the area as the heavy industry is to blame for the toxic fumes. Headaches, itchy eyes, throat and nausea are just some of the symptoms the victims experienced. The towns of Quintero and Puchuncavi, located north of Valparaiso were named the "Chilean Chernobyl" by Greenpeace and are home to mining, oil, cement, gas and chemical companies and have been deemed as "sacrifice zone" since its transformation to a industrial hub. 50,000 people live in these coastal towns, 100km from Santiago. On the list of 14 companies listed, there are 3 thermoelectric plants owned by AES Gener, a copper smelter plant owned by state giant Codelco and an oil refinery owned by ENAP. In recent years, a string of episodes of massive poisoning by polluting gases has been recorded. The most serious occurred in 2018 when in just two months almost 1,400 people were treated at the Quintero Hospital for poisoning. Send a warning to Codelco with me, this needs to stop! https://elpais.com/chile/2022-06-15/intoxicacion-masiva-en-un-cordon-industrial-chileno-esta-todo-contaminado-suelo-agua-y-aire.html https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220609-dozens-treated-in-chile-for-suspected-pollutant-exposure