Original article: Mortandad de especies únicas en Salar de Ascotán por ingreso ilegal de vehículos: admiten querella de comunidad Quechua «We Will Not Rest Until the Responsible Are Held Accountable»: Quechua Community Secures Admissibility of Environmental Lawsuit Against Actions in Salar, Court Rules The Calama Guarantee Court has accepted a criminal lawsuit filed by the Quechua Community of Cebollar Ascotán concerning irreversible environmental damages at the 11th spring of Salar de Ascotán, in the Ollagüe commune, as reported by El Nortero de Calama. This ruling obligates the Public Ministry to investigate the incidents and identify potential culpable parties under the new Economic and Environmental Crimes Law. According to El Nortero’s report, the incidents date back to April 4, 2026, when vehicles were detected entering the salar.
The following day, environmental monitors from the community observed an anomalous increase in water levels at spring 11, accompanied by the death of endemic wildlife, including the fish Orestias ascotanensis, a unique species found in these springs, the Loa frog (Telmatobius philipsi), migratory birds, and high Andean flora. Vanessa Bello Quispe, president of the community, quoted by El Nortero, stated: «As direct victims and ancestral guardians of this territory, we will not rest until those responsible for interfering with our waters face the penalties established by the new law. » The legal action does not identify specific individuals responsible but targets all who may be liable, thus opening a broad investigative scenario that includes potential repeated interventions in the area.
This case highlights a structural tension between the ecological fragility of Salar de Ascotán and unchecked human activities, warns El Nortero. The Prosecutor’s Office must determine if illegal interventions occurred, if water flows were altered, or if other defined environmental crimes were committed, in addition to assessing precautionary measures requested by the community to prevent further interventions in one of the region’s most sensitive water points.