A significant number of people have been killed and numerous homes have been destroyed in central Chile due to severe forest fires. President Gabriel Boric disclosed that at least 46 deaths have occurred, and approximately 1,100 homes have been demolished. In a televised address, Boric cautioned that the death toll may rise as efforts to reach imperiled neighborhoods continue to be challenging for firefighters. He also urged citizens to collaborate with rescue workers and to promptly evacuate if instructed to do so, highlighting the rapid advancement of the fires and the difficult climatic conditions — namely, high temperatures, strong winds, and low humidity.
Interior Minister Carolina Tohá revealed that 92 forest fires were active in the central and southern regions of the country, where temperatures have been exceptionally elevated. The most lethal fires were concentrated in the Valparaíso region, compelling authorities to advise thousands of individuals to vacate their residences. In areas further from the fires, residents were advised to stay at home to facilitate the movement of fire engines, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles on the roads. Two fires near the towns of Quilpué and Villa Alemana had scorched at least 8,000 hectares (19,770 acres) since Friday, with one of the fires posing a threat to the coastal resort town of Viña del Mar, where certain neighborhoods had already been severely impacted.
In Villa Independencia, a hillside neighborhood on the eastern edge of the town, multiple blocks of residences and commercial establishments were ravaged by the fires. Burned vehicles with shattered windows lined the ash-covered streets. Rolando Fernández, one of the affected residents, expressed disbelief, having resided in the area for 32 years without ever anticipating such a calamity. He recounted the rapid spread of the fire on Friday afternoon, forcing everyone to flee within 15 minutes, leaving them with nothing.
As a response to the crisis, three shelters were established in the Valparaíso region, and more than 450 firefighters and 19 helicopters were deployed to combat the blazes. Due to their remote location on mountains, which are difficult to access, certain neighborhoods in Viña del Mar were particularly susceptible to the fires. In addition, power outages were reported, and several institutions, including hospitals and nursing homes, had to be evacuated. The El Niño weather pattern, characterized by droughts and excessive temperatures, has heightened the risk of forest fires along the western coast of South America this year, with the fires in Colombia in January resulting in the destruction of over 17,000 hectares (42,000 acres) of forests after a prolonged dry spell.
