A fire that ravaged the heights of the Chilean tourist town of Valparaiso (in the center of the country) since Tuesday has totally or partially destroyed 245 houses, left nearly 2,000 people without electricity and injured twelve firefighters, the government announced on Wednesday 25 December. Chilean.
The fire devastated 150 hectares on the hills of Rocuant and San Roque, and 200 homes were "Touched by fire" to varying degrees, according to a statement from the Minister of the Interior, Gonzalo Blumel. The damage "Remain to be evaluated" specifically, he added.
"We have made progress in (fire) control, however the fire is not under control", he said. "The fire is low intensity", the national forestry administration said on Wednesday.
A region prone to fires
The fire started Tuesday from pastures and groves, before quickly spreading to houses, made of wood and sheet metal. In response, police, firefighters and the military evacuated dozens of families who were about to celebrate Christmas. Some of them spent the night in emergency accommodation.
"Twelve volunteer firefighters were injured, and 1,715 homes remain without electricity in the region", announced the National Office of Emergency Situations (Onemi).
Another fire, more circumscribed, touched nine hectares of vegetation in the same area, according to the Enemy. An investigation was opened into the causes of the two fires, which mobilize twelve firefighters, soldiers, seven tankers and eleven helicopters, according to the enemy.
The region is regularly plagued by spectacular fires. In January 2017, a fire ravaged a hundred homes on the hills of Valaparaiso, leaving several people injured.
