Four days have passed since central Chile faced devastating wildfires, resulting in 112 fatalities and hundreds reported missing. The death toll is expected to rise.
On February 2, severe wildfires broke out in the coastal region of Valparaíso, central Chile.
Wildfires have destroyed thousands of homes (Photo: AP).
According to Chilean President Gabriel Boric, this is considered the worst disaster in over a decade. Part of the cause can be attributed to the El Niño phenomenon and climate change.
The people of Chile are deeply saddened by the ongoing tragedy, as the fires have yet to be fully extinguished.
Currently, 112 fatalities have been confirmed from the fires, with the identities of 20 victims established.
Authorities are warning that the death toll could increase significantly. The wildfires have ravaged 43,000 hectares of forest and homes in the affected regions.
Local authorities estimate that hundreds of people are missing, and between 3,000 to 6,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed. The president has declared a two-day national mourning period starting this Monday in honor of the wildfire victims.
As of now, 40 active wildfires are still raging in Valparaíso, where nearly 3,000 firefighters, soldiers, and volunteers have been mobilized to combat the wildfires and manage the aftermath.
Consequences of the Climate Crisis
Chile is a country severely affected by global warming, increasingly facing natural disasters. Since the beginning of February, the country has recorded temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius.
Residents attempt to extinguish flames destroying a home from the wildfires. (Photo: AP).
In 2023, the country also suffered a similar disaster around this time.
“The area affected by the ongoing wildfires is much smaller than last year, but the number of hectares of forest damaged has increased significantly,” warned Chile’s Minister of the Interior, Carolina Tohá.
“More concerning, some outbreaks have had severe consequences for people, homes, and infrastructure. However, the weather conditions in recent hours have improved, bringing hope for quickly controlling the fires,” she added.
