143 fires in the country

At least 19 people killed in forest fires in Chile

At least 19 people have died in devastating forest fires in Chile.

(Bild: APA/AFP/Rodrigo Arangua)

At least 19 people have died in devastating forest fires in Chile. One of the victims in the city of Viña del Mar on the Pacific coast was a minor, said Interior Minister Carolina Tohá on Saturday.

The number of deaths is still provisional, as the emergency services have not yet been able to reach all the areas affected by the fires. The forestry authority registered 143 fires across the country on Saturday, covering an area of around 21,000 hectares. According to reports, almost 1000 houses were affected.

State of emergency in affected areas
President Gabriel Boric declared a state of emergency in the affected areas due to the fires in order to mobilize all necessary resources. A curfew was also imposed for the morning to facilitate evacuation, firefighting and rescue operations.

Were some fires started deliberately?
In summer (the seasons in the southern hemisphere are shifted by half a year compared to the northern hemisphere, note), severe forest fires occur again and again in Chile. There is a suspicion that at least some of the fires were started deliberately, said Interior Minister Tohá.