bmj;384/feb07_10/q300/FAF1faJavier TorresHundreds of Chilean firefighters helped tackle several forest fires that broke out on 2 February and raged all weekend around the city of Viña del Mar (pictured). The fire was just one of an estimated 92 burning across the centre and south of the country, including in Valparaiso, where the army was called up to help evacuate residents. Local officials reported that four Valparaiso hospitals had to be evacuated.Officials reported on Sunday 4 February that at least 112 people had died and thousands left homeless when the fires, which broke out in mountainous forested areas, moved into densely populated areas. President Gabriel Boric has declared two days of national mourning and warned the death toll could rise.Western South America has experienced record high temperatures since December as a result of El Niño weather patterns.
Source link