Chile Wildfires: The confirmed death toll from deadly wildfires in Chile rose to 112, an Interior Ministry official has said, as reported by AFP. According to Interior Minister Carolina Toha, the weekend blazes have been “without a doubt” the deadliest fire event in Chile’s history. By Sunday, some 26,000 hectares (64,000 acres) had burned in the central and southern areas, AFP has reported citing SENAPRED, the national disaster service.
While speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Undersecretary Manuel Monsalve said that medical examiner has received “112 people dead, 32 bodies identified,” adding that there were still “40 active fires” in the country.
Here are 10 points you need to know
1. The area surrounding Viña del Mar, where a well-known botanical garden established in 1931 was devastated by the flames on Sunday, was the site of the strongest fires. There were at least 1,600 homeless persons.
2. The fires broke out as Chile faces a heat wave that has affected other Latin American countries as well.
3. A state of emergency has been proclaimed as smoke engulfed the coastal cities of Chile, forcing residents in core regions to flee their homes.
4. Smoke and flames engulfed several neighbourhoods on Viña del Mar’s eastern fringe, trapping some residents in their houses while 200 persons have been reported missing in Viña del Mar and the surrounding area, officials said as reported by AP.
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5. On Sunday, President Gabriel Boric announced that Monday and Tuesday would be designated as national mourning days in honour of the fire victims, CNN reported. While speaking in a conference, he also stated that the death toll “will increase significantly.”
6. As per governor of the Valparaiso region, Rodrigo Mundaca, announced on Sunday that a curfew was being enforced in the towns of Vina del Mar, Quilpue, Villa Alemana, and Limache so that officials could concentrate on putting out the fires.
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7. In Quilpe, Mayor Valeria Melipillan told CNN Chile that the fire was “probably the largest ever” in the area and that around 1,400 homes had been damaged. Although the evacuation attempts had been effective, Melipillan noted that several residents of the impacted areas had expressed a reluctance to leave their houses.
8. Pope Francis urged people to pray for those who lost their lives in wildfires. In a post on X, he said, “Pray for the deceased and injured victims of the devastating fires that have affected central Chile.”
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9. Chile’s President Boric said in a televised statement on Saturday that the defence ministry would send additional military personnel to the impacted areas and would provide all required supplies.
10. In February 2023, fires in the country swept through more than 400,000 hectares and killed more than 22 people.
(With AFP, AP inputs)
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Published: 05 Feb 2024, 09:08 AM IST
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