51 killed as catastrophic Chile wildfires wreak havoc
WILDFIRES blazing across Chile have killed at least 51 people, leaving bodies in the street and homes gutted, with flames continuing to spread yesterday and the toll expected to rise.
President Gabriel Boric has decreed a state of emergency in Chile’s central and southern parts “due to catastrophe,” as dry conditions and temperatures soaring to 40 degrees Celsius exacerbated the crisis.
Dense gray smoke blanketed the city of Vina del Mar of the Valparaiso tourist region, along central Chile’s coastline, forcing residents to flee.
Rosana Avendano, a 63year-old kitchen assistant, was away from home when the fire began to sweep through El Olivar, an area of Vina del Mar, where she lives with her husband.
“It was terrible because I couldn’t get (to my house). The fire came here... we lost everything,” Avendano said. “My husband was lying down and began to feel the heat of the fire coming and he ran away.”
She feared the worst for hours, but eventually was able to contact her spouse.
The death toll rose to 51 on Saturday as firefighters battled to control the flames. The forensic medical service had previously reported 45 deaths, but “there are six more people who died in health care facilities,” according to interior under-secretary Manuel Monsalve.
Boric said the number of victims would increase, pledging government support to help people get back on their feet.
Authorities imposed a curfew beginning at 9pm on Saturday, to allow emergency supplies — especially fuel — into the affected areas.
Earlier on Saturday, Interior Minister Carolina Toha said there had been 92 fires as of noon, with 43,000 hectares burned across the country. Firefighters were still battling 29 of the blazes by the afternoon, while 40 had been brought under control.
The fires are being driven by a summer heatwave and drought affecting the southern part of South America caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon.