The death toll from wildfires in central Chile has climbed to at least 112 people, after President Gabriel Boric warned the number would rise “significantly” as teams search gutted neighbourhoods.
Responders continued to battle fires in the coastal tourist region of Valparaiso amid an intense heat wave, with temperatures soaring to 40 degrees Celsius over the weekend.
The Interior Ministry said that the medical examiner’s office had received 112 bodies, 32 of whom have been identified, and that there are 40 fires still active in the country.
Esto también es terrorismo
112 son los muertos por los 🔥🌲🌳 incendios forestales provocados en #Chile #America
Boric espabila pic.twitter.com/3WFKzGmlH2
— Sare Antifaxista (@Antifaxismoa) February 5, 2024
Speaking earlier in Quilpue, a devastated hillside community near Vina del Mar, Mr Boric had said the death toll was at 64 but said “we know it is going to increase significantly,” adding it was the country’s deadliest disaster since a 2010 earthquake and tsunami that killed 500 people.
Vina del Mar mayor Macarena Ripamonti told reporters “190 people are still missing” in the city.
“Not a single house was left here,” Lilian Rojas, 67, said of her neighbourhood near the Vina del Mar botanical garden, which was also destroyed in the flames.
State of emergency declared
Mr Boric, who met with fire survivors at a Vina del Mar hospital yesterday, has declared a state of emergency, pledging government support to help people get back on their feet.
According to national disaster service SENAPRED, nearly 26,000 hectares (64,000 acres) had been burned across the central and southern regions.
The death toll has risen to 112 in the devastating #wildfires raging in #Chile. Deadliest fires in #South American history.
❓How do we save the planet?
‼️ Everyone is responsible! There’s still a chance!#GRAMMYs #오랜겨울끝찾아온태현아생일축하해 pic.twitter.com/xsBWfcmuD6
— Светлана (@Svetlan31623421) February 5, 2024
Supported by 31 firefighting helicopters and airplanes, some 1,400 firefighters, 1,300 military personnel and volunteers are combating the flames.
SENAPRED chief Alvaro Hormazabal, noting the dozens of blazes still burning out of control, said weather “conditions are going to continue to be complicated.”
