Fighting fires that threaten residential areas in Chile

Authorities in Chile are battling to control the spread of multiple wildfires that have already burned more than 40,000 hectares of vegetation and are now threatening communities.

Sectors in the central part of the country, including the metropolitan area of ​​the capital Santiago, Valparaiso, O’Higgins and Maule have been declared on red alert; firefighters are trying to contain nine active fires, according to data from the National Forestry Company (CONAF) which were made public yesterday Monday.

Members of the federal government met with emergency officials overnight to review firefighters’ progress and assess the threat.

“We have mobilized all resources to fight the forest fires that are affecting the central regions of Chile,” President Gabriel Boric said on Twitter last Sunday night.

“Our main concern is the safety of the people who are affected, who are being helped, and putting out the fires that are still active,” he added.

As the flames approached, evacuations were ordered in Melipia, about 60 kilometers southwest of the capital, where schools were suspended on Monday.

“Populated areas are threatened by the flames and in many of these locations, despite the danger, there is resistance to recommendations for citizens to leave their homes,” Interior Minister Carolina Toa said with concern.

Forest fires are common in Chile during the southern hemisphere summer, when high temperatures and strong winds create ideal conditions for their rapid spread. In the current period, 44 fire outbreaks have been recorded across the country, according to official data.

RES-EMP

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