“The greatest tragedy” that Chile has experienced in more than a decade: the fires ravaging the Valparaiso region (center) have left at least 64 dead, and this figure “will increase significantly”, announced Sunday President Gabriel Boric. Entire residential areas devastated, charred cars, tens of thousands of hectares of forest reduced to ashes… For the third day in a row, firefighters continue to fight dozens of fires in the center and south from the country.
“I can unfortunately confirm that there are 64 deaths. This figure will increase, we know that it will increase significantly,” said Gabriel Boric during a trip to Quilpué, located on the outskirts of Viña del Mar in the Valparaiso region.
“A hell”
An AFP team was able to see entire neighborhoods and cars charred. There, thousands of residents were stranded for several hours on Friday as they tried to flee by car. “This is the biggest tragedy we have experienced since the 2010 earthquake,” said Gabriel Boric, referring to the 8.8 magnitude earthquake which was followed by a tsunami on February 27, 2010 and which had left more than 500 dead. Firefighters were still fighting 34 fires on Sunday morning and had managed to control 43, according to the National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (Senapred).
Lilian Rojas, a 67-year-old retiree, lived near the botanical garden in the resort town of Viña del Mar, one of the worst-hit areas. “There is not a single house left here,” she said, amid the rubble and ashes. She says the fire surprised them within minutes. “I went outside to see and people were already running. I left my house, closed the door and left,” describes the retiree, showing her pink dress: “it’s the only thing I have left.” Rodrigo Pulgar, a driver, lost his home in El Olivar in the hills of Valparaiso. “It was hell, explosions. I tried to help my neighbor put out his car, my house was starting to burn from behind. It was raining ashes,” he says.
Favorable weather conditions
The weather conditions of the last few hours seem more favorable, said Interior Minister Carolina Toha, describing a phenomenon typical of the Pacific coast that produces lots of clouds, high humidity and therefore lower temperatures. “Current conditions are more conducive to treating victims and controlling fires,” she added.
The Las Tablas fire, the largest in the Valparaiso region, is still active and “covers a perimeter of 80 km”, indicated Caroline Toha. Throughout the region, popular for its beaches and its wine production, 17 fire brigades, 1,300 soldiers and civilian volunteers were deployed to fight the flames and help destitute residents.
“The ravages of drought”
From Rome, after the Angelus prayer, Pope Francis called on Sunday to pray “for the dead and injured in the devastating fires in Chile.” The head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell announced on climate”. Since Wednesday, the temperature has been close to 40 degrees in central Chile and the capital Santiago.
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.