Authorities of Mexico City and its metropolitan area declared an extraordinary environmental risk on Tuesday due to high levels of pollution , which implies the restriction to vehicular traffic and the reprogramming of a semifinal game of the Mexican soccer tournament.

The measures come amid complicated weather conditions and numerous fires in the center of the country that have accentuated pollution.

Shortly before dawn, one of the air quality monitoring stations exceeded 150 polluting points, the limit level to declare the contingency and which leads to the suspension of a series of activities in the megacity of more than 20 million inhabitants .

The extraordinary environmental contingency is activated by particles, “says a statement from the Environmental Commission of the Megalopolis, referring to microparticles, which are the main environmental pollutant.

The Mexican capital and neighboring municipalities, with chronic pollution problems, have experienced for several days temperatures that reach 30 degrees Celsius, weak winds and lack of rain, which prevents the dispersion of pollutants.

To this the numerous fires are added, with 23 detected in the capital, where in the atmosphere one reaches to perceive a burning smell while the sky is covered by one by a gray mist.

As part of the extraordinary contingency, it is recommended to avoid outdoor activities and that the elderly or those with respiratory or cardiovascular diseases remain at home; Different construction jobs are also prohibited.

A tourist who walked through the city preferred to wear a mask. AFP / Pedro Pardo
The educational authorities determined since Monday that the mid-morning break for students, which usually lasts half an hour, is done inside the classrooms.

The authorities also partially restricted the circulation of vehicles on Wednesday as more than five million private cars in the capital and neighboring municipalities are one of the largest sources of environmental pollution.

The government also ordered to restrict the operation of industries that do not have equipment to control their emissions.

“The governments of Mexico City, the State of Mexico and the Mexican government continue to fight fires, and given the impact of these on air quality, the Environmental Commission of the Megalopolis calls for reducing emissions in all areas. sources, “the Commission said.

For its part, the Mexican soccer league postponed from Wednesday to Thursday the semifinal game of the soccer tournament between the Lion and America to be held in the capital Azteca Stadium.

A professional baseball game that would be played in Mexico City between the Red Devils, the local team, and the Algodoneros de Union Laguna was also postponed until Thursday.

Users of social networks have uploaded images in which tall buildings are enveloped in the haze, and the demands of the new mayor, Claudia Sheinbaum, to promote a better environmental policy multiply.