Residents of Medellín experienced a significant decline in air quality this Sunday, April 14th, with 16 out of 18 air quality monitoring stations across the city reporting harmful levels of PM2.5 particulate matter. The Valle de Aburrá Early Warning System (SIATA) issued health advisories recommending that vulnerable groups take preventative measures.
SIATA measurements showed neighborhoods such as Caldas, La Estrella, Sabaneta, Itagüí, El Poblado, Altavista, Belén, Robledo, Aranjuez, Bello, Copacabana, Girardota, and Barbosa registering air quality levels in the orange zone. Authorities advise that individuals over 60, children under five, pregnant women, and those with existing cardiorespiratory conditions should limit outdoor exposure and wear masks.
The increase in PM2.5 levels is attributed to a combination of factors, including unfavorable weather conditions, emissions from local sources, and pollutants carried from fires in other regions. Dry conditions associated with the El Niño phenomenon further complicate the situation in Medellin. The Environment Secretariat addressed this concern last month, leading to a preventive environmental state declaration for the Valle de Aburrá region.