Mist 112 people have died in the fires in Chile – and the death toll is feared to rise.
Photo: ADRIANA THOMASA / EPA EFE
40 fires are still raging in Chile and the summer heat is making extinguishing work difficult
Foto: AA / STELLA PICTURES/ABACA PRESS ABACA PRESS
In the tourist area of Valparaíso, fires are raging at the same time that the temperature during the weekend was 40 degrees.
Foto: AA / STELLA PICTURES/ABACA PRESS ABACA PRESS
The heat wave and drought that prevails in the southern parts of South America is a result of the El Niño weather phenomenon.
Foto: CNN / CNN
40 fires are still raging in Chile and the summer heat is making extinguishing work difficult. In the tourist area of Valparaíso, fires are raging at the same time that the temperature during the weekend was 40 degrees.
At least 112 people have died and President Gabriel Boric warns that the death toll will rise “significantly” as search efforts continue in residential areas that have burned down.
“An unprecedented disaster”
According to the mayor of the badly fire-ravaged community of Viña del Mar, 190 people are still missing from the town.
– We are facing an unprecedented disaster, says the mayor Macarena Ripamonti, TT reports.
In order to use all available resources to extinguish the fires, a disaster permit with a curfew has been issued. The fires are fueled by the heat wave and drought prevailing in the southern parts of South America, partly as a result of the El Niño weather phenomenon. Now there is concern that the heat will lead to fires in Paraguay and Brazil as well.
