The area of Quinteros and Puchuncaví in the Valparaíso Region, together with Coronel, Huasco, Mejillones and Tocopilla, make up the five environmental sacrifice zones in Chile. This name is due to the fact that there is a high concentration of polluting industries in each zone, which damages the health of the population living there.
Several episodes of pollution have been experienced in the bay since 2018, where in just one episode, more than 1,700 people were intoxicated by toxic gases emanating from companies in the sector. The children of the surrounding schools, have been the most affected by these episodes.
Even so, the population carries out its daily activities in the Ventanas bay, the neighbors surf and fish at the foot of the industries, between the pipes. Many citizens work in these companies, which provide employment in one of the most vulnerable areas of the country.
The fishermen of Quinteros no longer extract their products from the area; they must move to Alamar to be able to work.
Justice has not yet found anyone responsible or convicted, while the inhabitants of Quinteros and Puchuncaví continue to live next to these 20 companies as neighbors.