President Gabriel Boric has stated that a minimum of 46 individuals have lost their lives due to the ongoing forest fires in central Chile. He also expressed concern that the number of fatalities may increase.
On Saturday, Chile’s interior minister, Carolina Tohá, reported that there are currently a total of 92 fires in the central and southern regions of the country. These areas are experiencing abnormally high temperatures. Over 1,000 homes have been lost due to the fires.
The most fatal blazes occurred in Valparaíso, prompting officials to advise residents to remain indoors in order to facilitate the passage of fire trucks, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles.
No information was provided about the deceased individuals.
According to her, two separate wildfires in the towns of Quilpué and Villa Alemana have already destroyed 8,000 hectares (19,770 acres) of land since Friday. The blaze in one of the towns is currently posing a threat to the popular beach town of Viña del Mar, where several neighborhoods have already suffered significant damage.
The area of Villa Independencia, located on the eastern outskirts of the city, experienced extensive damage with entire blocks of residences and establishments being demolished. The roads were filled with debris, charred vehicles, and shattered glass, giving off a desolate atmosphere.
Rolando Fernández, one of the individuals who lost their home, expressed disbelief at the events that unfolded after 32 years of residence. He recounted first noticing the fire on a nearby hill on Friday afternoon. In just 15 minutes, the flames and smoke had spread to the area, prompting everyone to flee for safety.
Fernández expressed, “I have dedicated my entire life to work, and now I am left with nothing.”
Tohá announced that three shelters have been established in the Valparaíso region and that over 450 firefighters and 19 helicopters have been deployed to manage the wildfires. She also mentioned that rescue teams are facing challenges in accessing the heavily impacted areas.
The mountains are currently ablaze in hard-to-access areas and have impacted neighborhoods that were constructed precariously on the outskirts of Viña del Mar.
Authorities have additionally documented instances of power outages caused by the fire. Mayor Tohá stated that four hospitals and three nursing homes were forced to evacuate in the Valparaíso region. The fire also caused damage to two bus terminals.
Due to the El Niño phenomenon, there have been dry spells and unusually high temperatures in western South America this year, leading to a heightened possibility of wildfires. In the month of January, over 17,000 hectares (42,000 acres) of forests in Colombia were decimated by fires that were preceded by a few weeks of arid conditions.
Source: theguardian.com
