The death toll from the devastating wildfires in Chile has climbed to at least 112 individuals, with hundreds more reported missing, according to authorities.
President Gabriel Boric issued a warning on Sunday, indicating that the number of casualties would rise significantly as the forest fires continued to ravage the central region of Valparaiso.
In a televised address, Boric lamented the tragedy, stating, “It is Chile as a whole that suffers and mourns our dead.” He described the situation as a “tragedy of very great magnitude.”
Reports indicated that around 200 individuals were unaccounted for in and around the city of Viña del Mar, a popular beach resort heavily impacted by the intense fires.
The flames destroyed several neighbourhoods on the eastern outskirts of the city, known for its annual international music festival, leaving residents to sift through the remnants of their homes.
In response to the crisis, Boric declared a state of emergency on Friday, pledging support for those affected by the disaster. “We are together, all of us, fighting the emergency,” he affirmed, emphasising that the priority is to save lives.
As of Sunday, nearly 26,000 hectares (64,000 acres) of land had been consumed by the fires across Chile’s central and southern regions, as reported by the national disaster service, SENAPRED.
Authorities mobilised approximately 1,400 firefighters, 1,300 military personnel, and 31 firefighting helicopters and airplanes to combat the blazes.
While wildfires are not uncommon in Chile during the summer months, last year saw a spate of blazes in the south-central region that claimed the lives of about 27 individuals.
