The death toll from the forest fires that raged in southern central Chile rose to 13, the National Disaster Prevention Service reported on February 4, TeleSUR reported.
According to the Service, there are 204 active forest fires in the country, of which 56 are out of control. To date, as a result of the fires, 22 people have been injured, more than 47,000 hectares of forest have been burned and 97 houses have been destroyed. Of the 13 dead, 11 are residents of the city of Santa Juan.
Given the magnitude of the fires, the Chilean government has declared a state of emergency in the regions affected by the fire.
The fires in Chile, which broke out in extreme heat, were 99% man-made. The Prosecutor’s Office announced the arrest of two people involved in starting fires in the Biobío and La Araucanía regions.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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