Chilean authorities confirmed Friday the death of at least four people as a result of the forest fires that have been raging for days in the Biobío region, in the south-central part of the South American nation.
According to the Chilean Minister of the Interior, Carolina Tohá, the four deceased were caught by the flames when they were driving through the commune of Santa Juana, in the Biobío region, according to the T13 channel.
Minister Tohá acknowledged that for the moment the authorities do not have enough information to determine the age and sex of the deceased, although she stressed that «in principle they would be civilians», and said that work will be done to find out more information about the victims.
The head of the Interior reported that, this Friday alone, the Fire Department has managed to extinguish up to 41 fires, although she regretted that there are still more than 150 active fires, 56 of which are under control.
The regions of Ñuble and Biobío have been declared under a state of catastrophe and members of the Army have already been sent to the area to try to deal with a series of forest fires.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
