Todos Santos exposed to toxins due to «swift» demolition work

They aim to «downplay the situation» despite the findings of a consulting company about the secondary school roofs; parents insist on not returning to classes, exposing their young ones.

Diario Humano | La Paz, Baja California Sur – The «Educadores de Baja California» secondary school in the magical town of Todos Santos, Baja California Sur (BCS), has become the epicenter of a controversy that has sparked concern and protest among parents and the educational community.

The reason behind the controversy is the imminent demolition of the asbestos roofs installed on the school premises. This demolition is taking place faster than the safety stipulations for students dictate, without prior notice to the general community and with the approval of authorities.

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral widely recognized as harmful to human health. Exposure to asbestos fibers has been linked to severe diseases, including lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Gabriela Cota, the president of the Parent-Teacher Association (Mesa Directiva de la Sociedad de Padres de Familia) of the secondary school, has led efforts to ensure the safety of students and school staff. In an interview with Diario Humano, Gabriela Cota shared her concern and frustration about the lack of adequate measures taken by Civil Protection authorities and the Secretary of Public Education (Secretaría de Educación Pública, SEP).

«We submitted documents to Civil Protection because we were not satisfied with the safety measures provided by the school and its sub-director, Teacher Ofelia, was not giving us satisfactory responses,» explained Gabriela Cota.

The controversy intensified when a report from the consulting firm «Esparta Desarrollo Urbano e Ingeniería S.A. de C.V.» indicated a high level of risk to the student community and staff due to exposure to asbestos particles during the demolition. The report recommended that the demolition not proceed in less than 15 days and that appropriate personal protective equipment be used.

Parents expressed their concerns to municipal and state Civil Protection authorities. Despite their efforts, the demolition work began, but municipal Civil Protection’s intervention led to its temporary closure. However, the next day, the work resumed with the state’s permission to remove the seals.

When asked about the school’s decision to proceed with a swift demolition, Gabriela Cota stated that the school administration seemed to downplay the risk and did not take the asbestos threat seriously. «They did not convene a meeting to inform us adequately,» she noted.

A copy of the «Esparta Desarrollo Urbano e Ingeniería S.A. de C.V.» report was provided to this news outlet. However, attempts to interview the director of municipal Civil Protection, Erick Agúndez Cervantes, have gone unanswered, despite Diario Humano’s requests for information regarding the case and the closure imposed by that department.

Amid the controversy, the «Educadores de Baja California» secondary school expressed their concerns and disagreement with the imminent demolition and the lack of safety guarantees. In a statement, parents held the school authorities, the SEP, and the state Civil Protection responsible for not providing sufficient health assurances for their children.

With the demolition underway during the school calendar and a division between authorities and parents, the situation at the «Educadores de Baja California» secondary school remains tense and uncertain, according to other parents who preferred to remain anonymous for privacy reasons.

Parents continue to demand answers and proper safety measures before allowing their children to return to a potentially dangerous environment. They also insist that food in the cooperative was not removed in time, nor were the air conditioners covered.

Additionally, they request that the community be properly informed about the potential environmental damage caused by asbestos dust spreading throughout the magical town.