Merchants of the Santiago Model Market cry out for help after devastating fire
Uncertainty and despair have taken hold of the vendors at the Mercado Modelo in Santiago, who this Monday issued an urgent call to the central government for assistance following the voracious fire that, during the early hours of last Sunday, reduced at least 17 commercial establishments to ashes.
The affected owners describe this incident as a devastating blow, especially when remembering that it is the second tragedy of this magnitude they have faced in just two years. The loss of goods and infrastructure has left dozens of families in a precarious economic situation, with their sources of income completely paralyzed.
A bleak outlook for workers
Domingo Toribio, one of the affected merchants, compared the impact of the fire to the passage of a natural phenomenon, underscoring the urgency of receiving immediate state support. For his part, Jorge Luis Otaño Peña recalled that, following the incident that occurred a couple of years ago, the sector received aid of four million pesos, a mechanism they hope will be replicated in the face of the current financial crisis and the debt commitments they still maintain.
We are victims right now. We don’t know what to do in the face of this situation that has left us with nothing.
Domingo Toribio, affected merchant.
Social and economic impact
Andrés Rodríguez, president of the Lorenzo Vargas El Sombrero Merchants Association, highlighted that the impact goes beyond the business owners. It is estimated that about 60 people have been left without direct employment, affecting the stability of numerous families who depended on the operation of these businesses.
- 17 commercial establishments were consumed by the flames.
- A nearby hotel recorded minor damage thanks to the intervention of the firefighters.
- Million-dollar losses are being tallied, including a jewelry store whose losses range between one and two million pesos.
- Fire authorities, led by General Alexis Moscat, managed to prevent the fire from spreading on a large scale.
Luis Blanco, owner of the affected jewelry store, expressed with pain that his establishment has been consumed by fire on two occasions, which further complicates his ability to reinvent himself. While official agencies work on the technical reports, the commercial community of Santiago remains waiting for a government response that will allow them to rebuild their businesses and recover their economic stability.
