According to a report by CNN, authorities battling the fires in Chile have announced that the state of emergency (OHAL) has been expanded in the most affected regions. The number of people who have lost their lives has been updated to 64.
Due to the intensity of the forest fires in Valparaiso, it is reported that approximately 1,400 homes have been damaged. In a statement, Chilean President Gabriel Boric expressed that the death toll could rise given the conditions and announced that they have declared Monday and Tuesday as National Days of Mourning.
Stating that military units will be deployed to the regions affected by the fires, Boric emphasized that all necessary resources will be made available. Minister of the Interior Carolina Toha announced that firefighters have brought 40 fires under control and that efforts to combat 29 other forest fires are ongoing.
The report also touched upon the fire that broke out at the Lago Penuelas National Reserve, located approximately 20 kilometers from the city of Valparaiso. The National Disaster Prevention and Response Service reported that the fire is spreading rapidly and that evacuation procedures have begun in some towns.
President Boric had announced on his social media account that they declared a state of emergency due to the forest fires, while Interior Minister Toha had stated that they suspect some of the fires were started "deliberately."
News Source: AA
