A large number of fires have been raging in the country since Friday, and the most vulnerable are Viña del Mar and Valparaíso. President Gabriel Boric has declared a state of emergency with a curfew in order to use all available resources to extinguish the fires. Many have also been evacuated as the fires approached cities.
The president visited one of the hardest hit areas in Chile, Quilpue outside Viña del Mar, and was able to observe the enormous devastation.
He also announced two national days of mourning to honor the victims of the fires.
– This is the worst tragedy our country has been through since the earthquake in February 2010, said Boric.
Macarena Ripamonti, mayor of Viña del Mar, had then described the situation as very difficult.
According to Ripamonti, over 370 people have been reported missing, and between 3,000 and 6,000 houses have been destroyed.
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Norwegian citizens are among those who have been helped to leave vulnerable areas, reports the Norwegian news agency NTB. Sweden’s Foreign Ministry urges travelers to stay informed and follow the advice of the Chilean crisis preparedness authority, Senapred.
