Current:Home > ContactAt least 99 dead in Chile as forest fires ravage densely populated areas -AssetLink
At least 99 dead in Chile as forest fires ravage densely populated areas
View
Date:2025-04-13 12:46:51
Intense forest fires burning around a densely populated area of central Chile have left at least 99 people dead, officials said Sunday. About 1,100 homes were destroyed as of Saturday, officials said.
Chile's state morgue said the death toll had risen to 99 by Sunday afternoon, AFP reported.
"The number of victims will surely increase in the coming hours," said Chilean President Gabriel Boric on Saturday after the death toll had reached 46.
Chile's Interior Minister Carolina Tohá said on Saturday there were currently 92 forest fires burning in the center and south of the country, where temperatures have been unusually high this week.
The deadliest of the fires were occurring in the region of Valparaíso, where authorities urged people not to leave their homes so that fire engines, ambulances and other emergency vehicles can transit with greater ease.
Tohá did not offer any details about the people killed.
She said that two fires near the towns of Quilpué and Villa Alemana had burnt through at least 8,000 hectares (19,770 acres) since Friday. One of the fires was threatening the coastal resort town of Viña del Mar, where some neighborhoods have already been badly affected.
In Villa Independencia, a hillside neighborhood on the eastern edge of town, several blocks of homes and businesses were completely destroyed. Burnt-out cars with broken windows lined the streets, which were covered in ashes.
"I've been here 32 years, and never imagined this would happen," said Rolando Fernández, one of the residents who lost his home. He explained that he first saw the fire burning on a nearby hill on Friday afternoon. Within 15 minutes, the area was engulfed in flames and smoke, forcing everyone to run for their lives.
"I've worked my whole life, and now I'm left with nothing," Fernández said.
Three shelters have been set up in the Valparaíso region, and 19 helicopters and more than 450 firefighters had been brought into the area to control the blazes, Tohá said. Rescue teams were still struggling to reach the most heavily affected neighborhoods, she said.
The fires are burning on mountains that are hard to reach and have affected neighborhoods that were built precariously on the edge of Viña del Mar.
Officials have also reported blackouts as a result of the fire. Tohá said that in the region of Valparaíso, four hospitals had to be evacuated as well as three nursing homes for the elderly. The fire also destroyed two bus terminals, the interior minister said.
The El Niño weather pattern has caused droughts and hotter than usual temperatures along the west of South America this year, increasing the risk of forest fires. In January, more than 42,000 acres of forests were destroyed in Colombia by fires that followed several weeks of dry weather.
- In:
- Chile
- Forest Fire
veryGood! (934)
Related
- Tropical rains flood homes in an inland Georgia neighborhood for the second time since 2016
- Who won? When is the next draw? What to know about Powerball this weekend
- Hollywood’s writers strike is on the verge of ending. What happens next?
- WEOWNCOIN: The Emerging Trend of Decentralized Finance and the Rise of Cryptocurrency Derivatives Market
- Sarah J. Maas books explained: How to read 'ACOTAR,' 'Throne of Glass' in order.
- Ukraine air force chief mocks Moscow as missile hits key Russian navy base in Sevastopol, Crimea
- When does 'The Voice' Season 24 start? Premiere date, how to watch, judges and more
- Government should pay compensation for secretive Cold War-era testing, St. Louis victims say
- Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
- Hollywood’s writers strike is on the verge of ending. What happens next?
Ranking
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Woman's body found in jaws of Florida alligator
- Hollywood’s writers strike is on the verge of ending. What happens next?
- Don't let Deion Sanders fool you, he obviously loves all his kids equally
- PHOTO COLLECTION: AP Top Photos of the Day Wednesday August 7, 2024
- Don't let Deion Sanders fool you, he obviously loves all his kids equally
- Tigst Assefa shatters women’s marathon world record in Berlin
- Nightengale's Notebook: 'It's scary' how much Astros see themselves in young Orioles
Recommendation
Rylee Arnold Shares a Long
McDonald's faces another 'hot coffee' lawsuit. Severely burned woman sues over negligence
WEOWNCOIN: The Fusion of Cryptocurrency and Global Financial Inclusion
Ohio State's Ryan Day calls out Lou Holtz in passionate interview after win vs. Notre Dame
Daughter of Utah death row inmate navigates complicated dance of grief and healing before execution
Former NHL player Nicolas Kerdiles dies after a motorcycle crash in Nashville. He was 29
Europe keeps Solheim Cup after first-ever tie against US. Home-crowd favorite Ciganda thrives again
Student loan borrowers face plenty of questions, budget woes, as October bills arrive