At least 19 dead as forest fires approach densely populated central areas

Residents push a automotive away from a burning forest hearth engulfing properties in Villa Alemana, Valparaiso, Chile, Friday, Feb. 2, 2024.- AP

Intense forest fires burning round a densely populated space of central Chile have left at least 19 individuals dead and destroyed about 1,100 properties, officers mentioned Saturday.

According to Chile’s Interior Minister Carolina Tohá, a complete of 92 forest fires are at the moment burning within the central and southern areas of the nation, exacerbated by unusually excessive temperatures this week.

The most deadly blazes are concentrated within the Valparaíso area, prompting officers to advise residents in opposition to evacuating their properties to facilitate the passage of emergency autos, together with hearth vehicles and ambulances.

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Tohá didn’t supply any particulars concerning the 19 individuals killed.

She mentioned that two fires close to the cities of Quilpué and Villa Alemana had burnt by means of at least 8,000 hectares (19,770 acres) since Friday. One of the fires was threatening the coastal resort city of Viña del Mar, the place some neighbourhoods have already been badly affected.

In Villa Independencia, a hillside neighbourhood on the japanese fringe of city, a number of blocks of properties and companies had been destroyed. Burnt-out automobiles with damaged home windows lined the streets, which had been lined in ashes.

“I’ve been here 32 years, and never imagined this would happen” mentioned Rolando Fernández, one of many residents who misplaced his residence. He defined that he first noticed the hearth burning on a close-by hill on Friday afternoon. Within 15 minutes the realm was engulfed in flames and smoke, forcing everybody to run for his or her lives.

“I’ve worked my whole life, and now I’m left with nothing,” Fernández mentioned.

Three shelters have been arrange within the Valparaíso area, and 19 helicopters and greater than 450 firefighters have been introduced into the realm to manage the blazes, Tohá mentioned. Rescue groups had been nonetheless struggling to succeed in probably the most closely affected neighbourhoods, she mentioned.

The fires are burning on mountains which can be onerous to succeed in and have affected neighbourhoods that had been constructed precariously on the sting of Viña del Mar.

Officials have additionally reported blackouts as a results of the hearth. Tohá mentioned that within the area of Valparaíso, 4 hospitals needed to be evacuated as properly as three nursing properties for the aged. The hearth additionally destroyed two bus terminals, the inside minister mentioned.

The El Niño climate sample has induced droughts and hotter-than-usual temperatures alongside the west of South America this yr, rising the danger of forest fires. In January, greater than 17,000 hectares (42,000 acres) of forests had been destroyed in Colombia by fires that adopted a number of weeks of dry climate.

With inputs from AP.