Fires in Chile leave 99 dead and 372 missing
- February 5, 2024
- 0
The Chilean authorities this Sunday increased the death toll from the fires that engulfed the Valparaiso region to 99, of which 32 people have been identified, and the
The Chilean authorities this Sunday increased the death toll from the fires that engulfed the Valparaiso region to 99, of which 32 people have been identified, and the number of missing exceeds 370 people.
The Chilean Forensic Service (SML) reported 99 deaths as of 16:00 Sunday, of which 32 have already been identified and 25 autopsies have been carried out.
“All technical, medical and administrative teams are here with the support of professionals from Santiago and are ready to face this emergency,” the SML statement emphasizes.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric visited the area and declared two days of national mourning for the fire victims. The President said 1,300 homes were damaged and efforts were being made to house displaced families.
He also announced that the Cerro Castillo presidential palace in Viña del Mar will be open for classes with children and teenagers who were victims of this tragedy, with teachers and observers.
During his visit to the Fernando Durán Villarreal School in Quilpue, Valparaiso region, the President explained that, accompanied by the Minister, he will carry out an assessment of damage to infrastructure and public works. a public meeting will be held with Public Works Secretary Jessica Lopez.
Regarding the origin of the fires, Borik stressed that it will be investigated and classified it as “wretched“to those behind these fires and warned that They will be persecuted.
Borich previously explained that the priorities are, first of all, saving lives; secondly, extinguish active fires; thirdly, to restore the bodies of dead people; fourth, send urgent assistance to victims in shelters; fifthly, to guarantee public order with the help of the carabinieri and the armed forces, and sixthly, and lastly, to collect background information to investigate the causes of the fires. “We will stand,” Borich emphasized in a message published on the social network X.
Valparaiso Governor Rodrigo Mundaca also referred to the cause of the fire and stressed that “there is clearly premeditation here and therefore all authorities are going to exercise maximum severity.” “All possible prerogatives will be used to find the culprits, since the fires have turned into murders,” he warned.
372 MISSING PERSONS REPORTS
Meanwhile, Macarena Ripamontil, mayor of Viña del Mar, one of the communities hardest hit by the fires, said 372 reports of missing people had been received.
For her part, Chilean Interior Minister Carolina Toja noted that this is already “the fire that has caused the greatest loss of life and is likely to become an emergency after the 2010 earthquake, which caused the most casualties in Chile in recent times.”
Toha also stressed that “the capacity of the Legal Medical Service has been strengthened during these hours, but it will have to be increased tomorrow because the demand for work is likely to increase.”
He also noted that at the moment they do not have a full survey of the affected or damaged houses or infrastructure, but “roughly we know that 16 villas were damaged, 30 percent of them are Serviu condominiums, the remaining 70 percent are lots (many of them irregular) and camps. When it comes to housing, we don’t have the numbers, but we know there are thousands.”
THERE ARE “SERIOUS PREREQUISITES” OF INTENTION
As noted by other authorities, Toja stated that “there is strong evidence that the cause of the most serious of these fires, the Las Tablas fire, could have been intentional. Such rumors always circulate, but this time it is serious information from reliable people.”
For this reason, he said that the National Defense Headquarters had ordered a ban on the transport of fuel in canisters: “We have indications – as I said – of intentionality in several of these fires, and we want to make any other attempt to intensify new outbreaks as difficult as possible.”
Source: Aristegui Noticias
As an experienced journalist and author, Mary has been reporting on the latest news and trends for over 5 years. With a passion for uncovering the stories behind the headlines, Mary has earned a reputation as a trusted voice in the world of journalism. Her writing style is insightful, engaging and thought-provoking, as she takes a deep dive into the most pressing issues of our time.
Previous Post
Best Content of the Week on MC (CDV)
