2024-04-08 12:41:00
The Ministry of Education of Guatemala ―Mineduc― suspended classes in the departments of Guatemala and Sacatepequez due to the high air pollution derived from the large fire that occurred in a municipal landfill in Villa Nueva.
In addition to this measure, the authorities also recommended taking some precautions to take care of your health, below we share more details.
Suspension of classes announced in Guatemala and Sacatepéquez
The Ministry of Education has announced the suspension of classes in the departments of Guatemala and Sacatepéquez for Monday, April 8. This measure has been taken due to the air pollution caused by a fire that broke out in the landfill of the Authority for the Sustainable Management of the Lake Amatitlán Basin (AMSA).
According to authorities, the decision to suspend classes is based on the possible direction that the wind could take in the next 24 hours, which could worsen air quality conditions in the region. This measure applies to all educational centers, whether in the public, private, cooperative or municipal sectors.
The Mineduc has indicated that the suspension of classes could be extended depending on the recommendations issued by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS), the Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED) and the National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (INSIVUMEH).
The air pollution situation in Guatemala has intensified due to the large fire that broke out in the municipal landfill located at kilometer 22 of the route to the Pacific. This situation has been classified as “Very Bad” by INSIVUMEH, warning that, due to the trend in concentrations, the Air Quality Index could reach the “Dangerous” category. Authorities also mentioned that, because the air quality monitoring station in Guatemala City is located a considerable distance from the incident site, concentrations could be lower than those recorded in areas near the fire.
The latest update on the status of the fire was provided through a video posted on the social networks of the mayor of Villa Nueva. In this he indicates that it had been 60% controlled and that work in the area would resume early Monday morning.
Suspension of face-to-face classes in universities in the country
Some universities in the country have also suspended in-person classes in Guatemala and Sacatepéquez for Monday, April 8 due to the fire at AMSA. The activities will be moved to a virtual mode.
These are the universities that have announced this measure:
- University of San Carlos
- Rafael Landivar University (also suspended classes at the Escuintla headquarters)
If your university is not one of the above, remember to consult the official media to find out the measures that will be taken due to the aforementioned circumstances.
Recommendations for air pollution
In this note prepared due to air pollution presented at the beginning of April we share some recommendations so that you can take care of your health:
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