A resident of the sector expressed her concern, visibly worried: 'There is no water to clean our homes and, on top of that, garbage is everywhere'. The mayor of Atalaya, Tomás Robles, informed that since last Thursday, municipal crews have been working continuously on the collection and final disposal of waste. However, he acknowledged that the volume of garbage exceeds the municipality's immediate operational capacity. 'We are making all possible efforts with our team to return cleanliness to the district, but the amount of waste is considerable.' The massive attendance of pilgrims this year 2026 to the Minor Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel, where the image of Jesus Nazarene is venerated, left behind more than 100 tons of garbage scattered at various points in the Atalaya district. The large accumulation of garbage has generated concern among residents due to the health risks the population currently faces. After the massive demonstrations of faith during the pilgrimage, streets, avenues, and areas near the temple were covered with solid waste of all kinds, including plastic containers, food scraps, bottles, bags, and other debris. This is compounded by the lack of drinking water that has affected the district for several days, a situation that hinders cleaning efforts and aggravates the problem. Enrique Herrera and Belkis Díaz de Zeballos, inhabitants of the area, denounced that the foul odors, proliferation of flies, and the presence of vermin keep the community on alert, fearing that outbreaks of gastrointestinal, respiratory, or infectious diseases may occur. 'We are afraid that our children and elderly will get sick. We continue working non-stop,' stated the local government chief. As sanitation work progresses, residents are requesting urgent support from the relevant authorities, both to reinforce cleaning and to resolve the drinking water supply issue, which they consider a priority amid this health emergency. The situation has reopened the debate on the need to strengthen waste management plans and inter-institutional coordination during mass events, so that a large religious gathering does not end up becoming a public health problem for the residents of the Atalaya district.
