Violent forest fires in Chile: state of exception declared
This Saturday, February 3, relief efforts are underway in Chile where a state of exception was declared the day before in order to fight against violent forest fires which are spreading in tourist regions of the Latin American country. A provisional report suggests around ten deaths.
Evacuation of residents in Vina del Mar (Chile), February 2, 2024. AFP - JAVIER TORRES
By: RFI Follow
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The fires hitting
Chile
have plunged the famous seaside resort of Vina del Mar (center), along the Pacific coast, in the Valparaiso region into a cloud of smoke; they threaten hundreds of homes, causing forced evacuations. Firefighters have been fighting tirelessly since February 2 against around ten homes in the regions of Valparaíso and O'Higgins in the center, but also Maule, Biobío, La Araucanía and Los Lagos, in the south. In the towns of Estrella and Navidad, 200 kilometers southwest of the capital, uncontrolled fires burned nearly thirty homes, forcing residents to flee to this area near the seaside resort of Pichilemu , famous for surfing.
Temperatures are close to 40° in the center of the country
Since Wednesday January 31, the temperature has been close to 40 degrees in central Chile and the capital Santiago. “
We have preliminary information indicating several people have died, around ten,
” announced Sofía Gonzáles Cortés, the state representative in the Valparaiso region. Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of emergency in order to “
have all the necessary means
” in the face of the progression of the fires. “All forces are deployed in the fight against forest fires,” assured the Head of State in a message posted on the social network X (formerly Twitter). A meeting of the emergency services is called for Saturday morning to take an initial assessment of the situation.
More than 7,000 hectares devoured by flames
In the Valparaiso region alone, the fire devoured more than 7,000 hectares, according to CONAF, the Chilean national forestry office, pointing out the “
extreme evolution
” of the fire. Images that have gone viral on social networks, shot by trapped motorists, show the mountains engulfed in flames at the end of the famous Route 68, a road used by thousands of tourists to go to the beaches of the Pacific. The authorities had also interrupted traffic there on Friday due to “
reduced visibility due to smoke
”.
This heatwave resulting from the El Niño climatic phenomenon is currently affecting the southern cone of Latin America, in the middle of summer, causing forest fires worsened by global warming. After Chile and Colombia, the heat wave threatens Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil in the coming days.
(
With AFP
)
Read alsoIn Chile, residents of the capital pack up to seek calm and greenery
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