Chile fire: Firefighters face drones and arsonists
Firefighters and security forces battling blazes in Chile that have killed at least 21 people and ravaged swaths of forest this week faced other dangers, too, from attempted attacks to the threat of drone collisions. The flames, among the worst tragedies in the country’s recent memory, have reduced 45,700 hectares (176 square miles) of woodland and a handful of towns to ashes, according to the latest report from the National Forestry Corporation , released Thursday.
The total area burned in the current fires has already far surpassed the area consumed by the Valparaiso and Vina del Mar inferno of 2024, which destroyed more than 8,500 hectares (33 square miles) and claimed 131 lives. The fires have forced hundreds of people to take refuge in makeshift shelters and left a trail of destruction: burned-out vehicles, charred animals and 2,359 destroyed homes.
On Thursday, the death toll rose to 21 and the number of injured to 305. The number of victims and the extent of the damage are likely to rise. Residents of the most-affected areas have said people were still missing. Authorities began assessing the damage and impact Wednesday and have not released an official number of possible victims.
Skeletal remains recovered by search teams have been sent for forensic analysis to determine if they are human. “The firefighters and police worked tirelessly. It was the first time I ever saw them both cry,” Pamela Crisostomo, a neighborhood association president in Lirquen, ground zero for the tragedy, told The Associated Press. “We are going around and handling this form, which allows people to access the benefits and support provided by the State,” said Romina Gutierrez, a volunteer collecting data from affected families in the region.
