Photos and video prove arson. During the fire, 245 houses in the city popular with tourists were destroyed over Christmas.
Severe forest fires destroyed or partially damaged around 245 houses in the Chilean port city of Valparaíso over Christmas. According to authorities, the fires in the city popular with tourists were started by arson. Minister of Agriculture Antonio Walker said on Thursday that photos, videos and statements from residents showed that the fires were deliberately set on two hills.
Dozens of families had to be brought to safety shortly before the Christmas celebrations began. Some spent Christmas Eve in shelters. Twelve firefighters were injured. 150 hectares of forest went up in flames.
Valparaíso is located around 120 kilometers northwest of the capital Santiago de Chile. The old town with its colorful houses and narrow and steep streets has been a World Heritage Site since 2003. There are always fires in the city, which is built on and between 44 partially densely forested hills. In April 2014, about 2,500 houses in Valparaíso were destroyed by raging flames for days, 15 people were killed at the time.
(APA / AFP)
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