As flames raged over central Chile, at least 112 people were killed, according to a news outlet quoting the official institution in charge of managing victims’ corpses.
It is thought to be Chile’s worst deadly forest fire on record. Many of people harmed were vacationing along the seaside over the summer.
The death toll jumped from 51 on Saturday (Feb 3). The Chilean president has declared two days of national mourning, began Monday (Feb 5) and urged the people to brace itself for more terrible news. Officials claim that over 200 persons have gone missing in Viña del Mar and adjacent areas.
Conditions in Chile
The flames which began several days ago have left dead in the streets and homes burned, as authorities warned of “complicated” weather conditions in the coastal tourist region of Valparaiso. The region saw an extreme summer heat wave, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius over the weekend.
Firefighters are battling intense flames in Viña del Mar, a renowned vacation destination. According to the Associated Press, at least 1,600 people have been displaced around the city.
Chilean authorities have imposed a 9:00 p.m. (local time) curfew in the hardest-hit districts and sent the military to assist firefighters in containing the spread of the fires.
According to the national disaster service, SENAPRED, approximately 26,000 hectares had been burned as of Sunday in the central and southern areas.
Governor’s respond to the incident
Rodrigo Mundaca, the governor of the Valparaiso area, stated on Sunday that he suspected some of the fires were purposeful, echoing Boric’s idea.
“These fires began in four points that lit up simultaneously,” Mundaca stated in a press release. “As authorities we will have to work rigorously to find who is responsible.”
Wildfires are generally uncommon throughout the Southern Hemisphere’s summer, but they have gotten increasingly devastating in recent years. The recent forest fires in central Chile were caused by extremely high temperatures, low humidity, and strong wind speeds.
Actions taken by the Health Ministry
The Health Ministry issued a health notice for Valparaíso. The ministry ordered the suspension of elective surgery and the establishment of temporary field hospitals.
Medicine students nearing the conclusion of their studies will be employed to assist relieve pressure on the health-care system, the ministry said in the same statement.
Rescuers have struggled to access the most severely hit neighbourhoods, and Interior Minister Carolina Tohá predicted that the death toll will “reach much higher figures” in the coming hours.
The Chilean government has advised people not to travel to the areas affected by the flames.
