Ongoing wildfires claim 46 lives in Chile

VIÑA DEL MAR Wildfires blazing across Chile have killed at least 46 people, officials said Saturday, leaving bodies in the street and homes gutted as flames continued to spread.

President Gabriel Boric has decreed a state of emergency in the central and southern parts of the country “due to catastrophe,” as dry conditions and temperatures soaring to 40C exacerbated the crisis.

“There are 40 people who were killed in the fire, and another six (who died) as a result of burns,” Boric said, after he surveyed the affected region via helicopter Saturday afternoon. “We know that these (numbers) will increase.”

After the flight he promised, “We will be there as a government to help them get back up (on their feet).”

Dense grey smoke blanketed the Vina del Mar area of the Valparaiso tourist region, along central Chile’s coastline, forcing residents to flee their homes.

Authorities imposed a curfew beginning at 9pm Saturday, to allow emergency supplies – especially fuel – into the affected areas. New evacuation orders were issued, though it remained unclear exactly how many people have been told to leave.

Earlier Saturday, Interior Minister Carolina Toha said there had been 92 fires as of noon, with 43,000ha burned across the country.

Firefighters were still battling 29 of the blazes by the afternoon, while 40 had been brought under control.

In the hillsides around the coastal city of Vina del Mar, entire blocks of houses were burned out overnight, AFP reporters saw Saturday morning, as thousands of people who had previously evacuated returned to find their homes destroyed.