Forest fires in central Chile killed at least 51 people on Saturday while firefighters worked to contain the flames that were posing a threat to cities.
Authorities predict that the death toll will keep rising. Information indicates that the area will ” reach much higher figures” in the next few hours, according to Interior Minister Carolina Tohá. According to Tohá, there are ninety-two forest fires raging in the country’s south and center.
Black smoke billowed from the sky over much of the Valparaíso region as firefighters battled the fires with trucks and helicopters. Thousands of people were advised to flee their homes in the Valparaíso region due to the deadly nature of the fires. Tohá reported that the Valparaíso region required the evacuation of four hospitals and three nursing homes.
To help battle the fires, Tohá said that three shelters were set up in the Valparaíso region, and more than 450 firefighters and 19 helicopters were brought in.
Rescue crews were having difficulty reaching all affected areas, with the coastal tourist city of Viña del Mar being one of the hardest hit areas by the fires, according to Chilean officials. The fire raged on unreachable mountains, encompassing residential areas on Viña del Mar’s periphery.
Numerous blocks of residences and commercial establishments were devastated in Villa Independencia, a hillside community on Viña del Mar’s eastern border. There were ash-covered streets with burned cars with shattered windows.
“Valparaiso’s situation is extremely critical,” Tohá stated, pointing out that this is the worst disaster to hit the nation since an earthquake in 2010 claimed roughly 500 lives.
In a televised speech, President Gabriel Boric informed the country that things “are really very difficult.”
The wildfire-affected area grew from 30,000 hectares to 43,000 hectares, or 110,000 acres, between Friday and Saturday.
Toha stated that the most significant worry was that a few of the ongoing fires were growing extremely near to cities, “with the very high potential to affect people, homes, and facilities.”
