Five deaths are recorded in forest fires in Chile

Five deaths have been registered in Chile due to the forest fires that affect the south-central zone of Chile and for which the government of Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe.

Initially, the death of four people was mentioned, two were traveling by vehicle and were hit by the flames, while the others died in a traffic accident, according to the Minister of the Interior, Carolina Tohá.

This happened in the town of Santa Juana, in the Biobío region.

A fifth person appeared in the area and it was a volunteer firefighter, who died after being run over by a fire truck while it was backing up.

According to the authorities, more than 29,000 hectares have been razed in around 200 fires. The sources of fires began in agricultural areas and forests, and progressed to threaten and affect populated areas.

Even traffic on one of the main highways that connects to the city of Concepción (510 km south of Santiago) had to be restricted since Thursday due to the proximity of the fire.

The Chilean government declared a state of catastrophic exception on Friday in the Ñuble and Biobío (center-south) regions. The sources of accidents also affect the regions of Maule and La Araucanía.

President Gabriel Boric decided to suspend his vacation and went to Concepción.

“We are going to be conducting patrols throughout the area. The most important thing now is to put out the fires. The State is deployed for that,” said the leftist ruler.

The declaration of the state of catastrophe, a state of constitutional exception, allows measures such as the provision of additional resources to control the emergency and go to the aid of those affected, restricting the use of military forces in this emergency situation.

Two people have been arrested and are linked to the generation of fires in the Biobío and Araucanía regions. (YO)