Devastating wildfires that broke out in central Chile on February 2 have unleashed widespread destruction, killing about 123 people and destroying some 3,000 homes, according to the authorities.
The firefighters battled to contain the raging flames as the search continued for the missing and survivors picked through the scorched remains of their lives.
The authorities have extended curfews in severely affected cities, where over 1,600 people are now homeless. Additionally, around 200 individuals are reported missing due to the ongoing wildfires.
Viña del Mar suffered extensive damage, with unprecedented fires destroying large areas, including a famous botanical garden established in 1931, representing the region’s natural heritage.
Drone footage captured by Reuters showed a harrowing picture of devastation, with entire neighborhoods reduced to burning ruins. Amidst the charred remnants of homes, distraught residents sift through the debris, grappling with the enormity of their losses. Streets once bustling with life now lie eerily deserted, strewn with the carcasses of burnt-out vehicles.
Abraham Mardones, a 24-year-old welder who fled his burning home in Vina del Mar, told AFP that he narrowly escaped the fast-paced inferno. “We saw the fire on the hill in front of us. The entire hill burned. The fire consumed everything — memories, comforts, homes. I was left with nothing but my overalls and a pair of sneakers that were given to me as a gift,” Mardones said, adding that he could only rescue his dog.
Key facts
- Death toll reaches at least 123
- Over 1,600 individuals homeless, 200 missing
- Approximately 26,000 hectares (64,000 acres) of land burned in central and southern regions
- The government has deployed 1,400 firefighters, 1,300 military personnel backed by 31 helicopters, and planes to combat fires
Chile begins two days of mourning
Chile began two days of national mourning Monday for at least 122 victims of a raging wildfire.
President Gabriel Boric on Sunday warned that casualties would rise “significantly” as forest fires continued to blaze in the central region of Valparaiso.
“It is Chile as a whole that suffers and mourns our dead,” Boric said in a televised speech. “We are facing a tragedy of very great magnitude.”
President Boric lamented the adverse weather conditions worsening the crisis, including high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds hindering firefighting efforts.
Boric on Friday declared a state of emergency as he pledged support for people trying to recover from the disaster.
“We are together, all of us, fighting the emergency,” he said. “The priority is to save lives.”
Governor Rodrigo Mundaca of the Valparaíso region, on February 4, voiced suspicions that some fires may have been deliberately ignited, as suggested by President Gabriel Boric a day earlier.
“These fires began in four points that lit up simultaneously,” Mundaca said. “As authorities, we will have to work rigorously to find who is responsible.”
The battle against the ever-spreading inferno is tough also due to the challenging terrain, with flames surging into densely populated urban areas despite maximum efforts to stop it.
The wildfires, already consuming a staggering 8,000 hectares of forest and urban landscape, continue to rage unchecked.
In a bid to safeguard lives and property, authorities are urging residents in affected areas to evacuate quickly, while those beyond the inferno’s reach are advised to remain indoors to facilitate the passage of emergency vehicles.
The blaze came amidst a sweltering heatwave gripping central Chile, exacerbated by the El Niño weather phenomenon, which has unleashed drought conditions and heightened the risk of wildfires across western South America.
Hundreds of people are missing
Viña del Mar’s Mayor Macarena Ripamonti said that at least 370 people have been reported missing in the city of about 300,000 residents.
Only 32 of the victims have been identified. Marisol Prado, the director of Chile’s Forensic Medical Service, said that many bodies were in bad condition and difficult to identify, but added that forensic workers would be taking samples of genetic material from people who have reported missing relatives.
Schools and other public buildings in Viña del Mar and Santiago are currently serving as depots, where people are taking donations of water and food for the victims of the fires.