Santiago dawn Monday on its first environmental emergency year due to high pollution and the extent paralyzed at least 40% of the automotive park, announced on Sunday the authorities.
The measure was taken "due to poor ventilation conditions and in order to safeguard the health of the population," said a statement released by the Administration (Governor) of Santiago.
The environmental emergency is the first to be offered since June last year when the America Cup in Chile was played.
This measure is the maximum alert that includes the Chilean legislation and taken when pollution levels of the 11 stations measuring air quality in Santiago exceed the 500 level of particulate matter.
On Monday, it will be a holiday in Chile, 40% of the automotive park in Santiago will be paralyzed as 2,558 industrial stationary sources.
The authorities also banned the total use of wood-burning stoves and wood products, recommended not perform outdoor sports and suspension of physical education classes in schools, although it is a holiday.
The measure was taken after nine environmental pre-emergency have been declared in Santiago, the Chilean capital of about seven million inhabitants.
Santiago suffers from pollution in winter because of the geographical "boxing" of the Chilean capital, located in a valley surrounded by hills and the Andes.
The Chilean capital is ranked as one of the most polluted in the region.