Intense forest fires burning around a densly populated area of central Chile have left at least 46 people dead and destroyed about 1,100 homes, officials said Saturday.
“The death toll from the forest fires currently affecting the center and south of the country has risen to at least 46 people”. Chilean President Gabriel Boric announced on Sunday
Agence France-Presse quoted the Chilean president as saying: “Forty people were killed in the fires and six others died from their burns” indicating that this toll is likely to rise.
Forest fires are recorded in Chile almost every year due to the extreme heat at this time of the year, while Chilean media announced yesterday that forest fires broke out in the Valparaiso region on an area of 7.8 thousand hectares, killing 10 people and injuring at least 28 others.
Rawaa Ghanam