State of Emergency Declared in Chile as Forest Fires Claim 46 Lives and Decimate Homes
Chile’s President Gabriel Boric declared a state of emergency on Saturday in response to raging forest fires that have claimed at least 46 lives and laid waste to over a thousand homes, with the death toll expected to climb. Interior Minister Carolina Tohá reported that a staggering 92 forest fires were out of control in central and southern Chile.
The Valparaíso region, a popular tourist destination housing nearly a million residents, witnessed the deadliest blazes. Authorities urged people to stay indoors, facilitating the movement of emergency vehicles to tackle the escalating crisis.
“The report of fatalities is very provisional,” cautioned Tohá when the death toll was at 19. “We have reports from other places where there are indications that there may be more people dead, but we do not have confirmation on the ground.”
As of Saturday, approximately 1,100 homes had been reduced to ashes, forcing residents of Valparaíso and Vina del Mar to flee for their lives. The relentless flames had devoured 106,255 acres, equivalent to 166 square miles.
“All forces are deployed in the fight against the forest fires,” President Boric announced on Saturday, underscoring the severity of the situation.
Efforts to contain the blazes were further hampered by winds gusting between 25 to 31 mph, propelling flaming debris and igniting additional fires, according to Leonardo Moder, director of Valparaíso’s national forestry corporation.
The region is grappling with a heat wave intensified by the El Niño weather pattern, leading to droughts and soaring temperatures across western South America. Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil brace for similar record-breaking temperatures.
Survivors recount harrowing tales of escape from neighborhoods transformed into charred landscapes, with burnt-out cars and destroyed homes. Rolando Fernandez, who lost his home in Vina del Mar, described a rapid evacuation as flames engulfed the neighborhood.
“I’ve been here 32 years, and never imagined this would happen,” said Fernandez. “I’ve worked my whole life, and now I’m left with nothing.” The devastating impact of the forest fires continues to unfold, leaving communities grappling with the aftermath of this unprecedented catastrophe.
Forest fires, fueled by record heat and drought, kills at least 46 in Chile.
At least 92 forest fires were burning in central and southern Chile.https://t.co/gcHpYQR1BQ
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) February 4, 2024