Central Chile is grappling with raging forest fires that have claimed at least 123 lives over the past three days. The Valparaiso region, home to nearly one million residents, is enveloped in thick black smoke as firefighters battle to control the blazes using helicopters and trucks, hindered by the scale and intensity of the flames.
Areas around the coastal tourist city of Viña del Mar are among the hardest hit. Rescue teams are struggling to reach all affected zones, with several neighborhoods on the eastern edge of the city engulfed by flames and smoke, trapping residents and blocking escape routes. The disaster has left at least 1,600 people homeless in a city of 300,000.
Officials report that 200 people have been declared missing in Viña del Mar and its surrounding areas. The situation remains dire as emergency services work tirelessly to locate the missing and provide aid to those displaced by the catastrophe. The full extent of the damage is still unfolding as authorities brace for the potential spread of the fires.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
