Wildfires in Chile result in at least 64 fatalities, with concerns that the number could rise | CNN

CNN
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A minimum of 99 individuals have lost their lives in Chile due to massive wildfires, as stated by CNN Chile on Sunday, with the country’s Legal Medical Service (SML) warning that the death toll is likely to increase.

Coastal cities such as Viña del Mar and Valparaiso are under a state of emergency as smoke engulfs them, and people in central regions are being compelled to evacuate their homes.

There are currently 161 active fires across the country, with 102 fires under control, 40 being fought at present, and 19 under observation, according to Álvaro Hormazábal, director of the National Disaster Prevention and Response Service, speaking to CNN Chile.

Following his visit to the affected areas, President Gabriel Boric, in a press conference, stated that the death toll is expected to “significantly” increase, and he announced Monday and Tuesday as days of national mourning for the fire victims. As of now, 32 individuals have been identified by SML, as reported by CNN Chile.

Rodrigo Mundaca, the governor of the Valparaiso region, announced that a curfew is being imposed in the towns of Viña del Mar, Quilpué, Villa Alemana, and Limache to allow authorities to concentrate on battling the blazes.

Quilpué’s mayor, Valeria Melipillán, conveyed to CNN Chile that the fire is possibly the largest ever in the region and has caused damage to nearly 1,400 houses in the municipality. Melipillán authorities added that, while evacuation efforts have been effective, some individuals in the affected areas are reluctant to leave their homes.

Pope Francis urged people to “pray for the deceased and injured victims of the devastating fires that have affected central Chile.” in a post on ‘X’

In a televised statement on Saturday, President Boric announced that the defense ministry would be deploying additional military units to the affected areas, with all necessary resources being made available.

Earlier, Chile’s Finance Minister Mario Marcel estimated that the damages in the Valaparaíso region could reach the “hundreds of millions of dollars.”

The fires have occurred amidst a summer heatwave, with Chile’s capital Santiago experiencing consecutive days of hot and dry temperatures reaching above 33 degrees Celsius (91.4°F).

Scientists point to climate change and the El Nino weather phenomenon as contributing factors to a warming planet, increasing the likelihood of events such as heatwaves and fires.

At least one person has been arrested in connection with the wildfires, as reported by CNN Chile.

According to the police, the individual was conducting welding work at his home in the city of Talca in central Chile, resulting in an accidental fire that spread to nearby grasslands, as per CNN Chile. The suspect is scheduled to appear before the Maule Prosecutor’s Office in Talca on Sunday.

Emergency teams are prioritizing the fires in the port city of Valparaíso on Chile’s coast due to their proximity to urban areas, and around 372 residents have been reported missing, according to the city’s mayor.

Author: OpenAI