46 reported dead in Chile as forest fires move into densely populated central areas
Source: AP
By PATRICIA LUNA and ALEXANDRE PLAZA
Updated 4:54 AM CST, February 4, 2024
VIÑA DEL MAR, Chile (AP) — Intense forest fires burning around a densely populated area of central Chile have caused at least 46 deaths, Chile’s president said Saturday evening, and officials said at least 1,100 homes had been destroyed.
In a nationally televised address, President Gabriel Boric warned that the death toll could worsen as four large fires burn in the region of Valparaiso, where firefighters have struggled to reach the most threatened neighborhoods.
Boric urged Chileans to cooperate with rescue workers.
“If you are told to evacuate don’t hesitate to do it,” he said. “The fires are advancing fast and climatic conditions have made them difficult to control. There are high temperatures, strong winds and low humidity.”
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/chile-forest-fires-430181f95724369f805779010450ee5f
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From CNN:
About 92 active fires are burning in various parts of the country and have so far affected roughly 43,000 hectares, Interior Minister Carolina Tohá said. Firefighters have controlled 40 fires and are still battling 29, she added.
The fires come as the country is hit by a summer heatwave, with Chile’s capital Santiago sweltering through consecutive days of hot, dry temperatures climbing above 33 degrees Celsius (91.4°F).
Scientists say climate change and the El Nino weather phenomenon are driving forces behind an increasingly warm planet, making events such as heatwaves and fires more likely.
At least one person has been detained so far in connection to the wildfires, CNN affiliate CNN Chile reported.
According to police, the man was at his home in the city of Talca in central Chile doing welding work when a fire accidentally started and spread to nearby grasslands, CNN Chile reported. The suspect will be arraigned on Sunday in Talca, according to the Maule Prosecutor’s Office.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/03/climate/chile-wildfires-state-of-emergency-intl-hnk/index.html
