SANTIAGO – Chilean authorities have confirmed the death of Nelson Orellana, the mayor of Tiltil, who had previously been reported as infected with the coronavirus.
The mayor had been transferred to Santiago’s Las Condes Clinic after developing complications, but it is unknown if the death occurred as a result of the COVID-19 infection.
The community chief was quarantined for coronavirus and last Thursday, the day he was discharged, he suffered a heart attack that had him hospitalized at the clinical center.
Lamentamos profundamente el fallecimiento del alcalde de la comuna de Til Til, Nelson Orellana Urzúa. El alcalde @mario_olavarria y sus funcionarios enviamos mucha fuerza a su familia y nuestras profundas condolencias también a toda la comunidad de Til Til. pic.twitter.com/bpSqFRRV1J
— Municipalidad Colina (@MuniColina) June 16, 2020
UDI deputy Patricio Melero said in the Congress today that “the death occurred due to a surgical intervention from which he could not recover.”
During the daily report of the advance of Covid-19 in Chile, Minister of Health Enrique Paris gave his condolences and said he did not know if the coronavirus influenced Orellana’s death or not.
The information was regretted by political authorities such as the Metropolitan mayor Felipe Guevara, who said: “My deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Mayor Nelson Orellana, who leaves us with his memory of public service, defense of the territory and fight for more dignified conditions for the residents of Til Til.”
MP Pablo Vidal extended his support for the mayor’s family, adding that “I want to send my heartfelt condolences to his family and to the entire Tiltil community. It is truly heartbreaking news.”
El Diputado Patricio Melero me acaba de contar que falleció el Alcalde Nelson Orellana de Tiltil. Quiero enviar mis más sentidas condolencias para su familia y para toda la comunidad de Tiltil. Es una noticia realmente desagarradora.
— Pablo Vidal Rojas (@pablovidalrojas) June 16, 2020
For their part, deputies from the area, such as DC Gabriel Silber (DC), pointed out that “Tiltil mourns the departure of Nelson Orellana, the great Mayor of our commune!! He leaves us a great public servant, always committed to Tiltil and his people! Chacabuco entire dismisses one of his children.!!”
Tiltil llora la partida de Nelson Orellana gran Alcalde de nuestra comuna ..!! Nos deja un gran servidor público ,siempre comprometido con Tiltil y con su gente! Chacabuco entero despide a unos de sus hijos.!! pic.twitter.com/iRc0HObsdq
— Gabriel Silber (@gabrielsilber) June 16, 2020
During his tenure, the late mayor fought a hard battle to change the image of the commune as the “backyard” of the Metropolitan Region, especially for the installation of landfills and waste plants in that territory.
Tiltil, a Chilean municipality and city, in the Chacabuco Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region, is also known for being an execution place for rebels during Chile’s independence war against Spain. Manuel Rodríguez was executed in Tiltil.
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