To monitor and manage emergencies across the Metropolitan Region's 52 municipalities, the regional team of the National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (Senapred) has fewer than 20 staff members. The National Association of Service Employees (Anfusenapred) made the allegation public this Friday, days after the mudslide that affected Las Condes.
According to Cooperativa, the union calculated that this figure amounts to one staff member for every 390 thousand residents. In its statement, the association added that responding to the emergency forced some professionals to work for more than 24 consecutive hours.
CNN Chile reported that these extended shifts occurred during the response to the mudslide in San Carlos de Apoquindo, the area of Las Condes where the damage was concentrated.
"Protecting the public requires ensuring working conditions that allow these duties to be carried out without compromising health, rest periods or the continuity of SENAPRED's work," the association said.
The complaint comes as the 2027 Budget is being debated. In response to that debate, Anfusenapred called for teams to be strengthened and for no cuts that would weaken disaster prevention and response. It also noted that the service carries out warning and coordination duties around the clock, 365 days a year.
The employees have been taking collective action since September 28. They say the service faces persistent shortfalls in staffing, funding and its regulatory framework. Their demands include filling vacant positions, ensuring shift coverage, strengthening career progression for staff and agreeing on a multiyear plan to add personnel, infrastructure and technological equipment.
"Strengthening the Service means strengthening the protection of people and the country against disasters," the union's national board said.
The sources consulted do not include a response from the government or Senapred's management to these figures.
The union is seeking to resolve its demands through ministerial talks with the Ministry of the Interior, from which it expects commitments with clearly defined responsibilities, deadlines and funding. According to the association, those talks are scheduled for October 14.
