In the midst of hosting the Copa America soccer tournament, Santiago, Chile has declared an environmental state of emergency for the greater metropolitan region due to air pollution. Over 900 industries are temporarily closed and 40 percent of the city's 1.7 million cars have been ordered off the roads in an effort to keep the smog levels down. It is the first environmental emergency declared in the nation since 1999 and bad weather may, in part, be to blame. June was the driest month in the Santiago valley since 1968; rains usually tend to keep the smog at bay.
Residents have been asked to avoid exercising outdoors and to show their "civic spirit and solidarity" by helping to minimize pollution. The Copa America will resume on Wednesday with a quarterfinals game between Uruguay and Chile.
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