Chile’s National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (Senapred) has raised to 23 the number of deaths caused by the wave of forest fires that are devastating the center-south of the Latin American country and have led the government to request international assistance from several countries, including Spain, to contain the flames.
In its latest balance, Senapred has confirmed a total of 23 deaths, 1,111 people in shelters, 865 victims and also notes a total of 979 people injured but has not specified their severity.
It also indicates that 563 houses are currently in a state of evaluation due to the damages caused, while a total of 20 educational centers have been damaged.
So far, Chile has registered a total of 232 active forest fires, 149 controlled and 83 in combat, in the midst of a red alert situation in the regions of Ñuble, Biobío and La Araucanía.
In addition, during the press conference, Senapred has confirmed the evacuation of 25 patients from Lautauro Hospital due to the forest fires affecting La Araucanía region.
Of the total number of deaths, twelve correspond to the commune of Santa Juana, in the Biobío region, including Yesenia Muñoz, a firefighter worker who died during the control work.
A light aircraft pilot and his companion died in the commune of Galvarino, in the Araucanía region, after the aircraft crashed while on its way to control forest fires.
According to Chile’s Minister of the Interior, Carolina Tohá, four other deceased were caught in the flames while flying in the commune of Santa Juana.
This same Saturday, the Minister of the Interior, Carolina Tohá, confirmed the activation of a request for international support in search of help from abroad to strengthen the fight against the fires in Chile.
These requests have been addressed to Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico, Spain and other countries, according to the information provided by La Moneda. «Contact has been made with several governments to reinforce efforts previously made with companies that provide services,» he said in comments reported by Radio BíoBío.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)