Valparaíso fires: Dozens of homes destroyed

in Chilean city
 25 December 2019

Media captionWatch wildfires engulf houses in Valparaíso

At least 150 houses have been destroyed by fast-moving woodland fires in the Chilean city of
Valparaíso.

The fires, which spread through the Rocuant and San Roque hills, reached two poor residential
areas and were still burning on Christmas Day. There have been no reports of any casualties.

High summer temperatures and strong winds helped spread the flames.

Interior Minister Gonzalo Blumel said evidence gathered so far indicated the fires had been
started deliberately.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Residents returned to see the charred remains of their
homes

Power was cut to about 90,000 customers in the area as a precautionary measure. Two schools
were turned into shelters for the affected residents, who were forced to flee in the middle of
Christmas Eve celebrations.

 How do you fight extreme wildfires?

Mayor Jorge Sharp said a state of emergency had been declared in the city, some 100km (62
miles) from the capital, Santiago.
A video posted on social media showed a car next to where a fire started. Prosecutors were
investigating the footage as well as reports from residents that cars were seen in the hills affected
moments before the fires began, Emol website reports.

Agriculture Minister Antonio Walker visited the areas and admitted that the firefighters were
struggling to contain the fires.

Nearly 120 hectares (445 acres) of grassland have already been ravaged.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Firefighting helicopters have also been deployed Image
copyright Reuters Image caption Residents have desperately tried to salvage their personal
belongings in the festive period

On Twitter, President Sebastián Piñera said: "We deeply regret the fire that affects so many
families in the hills of Valparaíso and especially on Christmas Eve."

Valparaíso, in central Chile, is one of country's largest cities and a major port on the Pacific. It is
also a popular tourist destination in South America.

In 2017, the central Chilean town of Santa Olga was destroyed by wildfires.