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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider International help arrives for fire-hit Chile

International help arrives for fire-hit Chile

Published Feb 7, 2023 07:42 am

CONCEPCION, Chile - International experts on Monday joined Chile's frantic fight against devastating, drought-fueled forest fires that have killed 26 people, injured hundreds and destroyed more than 1,100 homes in less than a week.

Firefighters take a break while trying to extinguish the forest fire in Santa Juana, Concepcion province, Chile on February 6, 2023. The fires, which have been raging since last week, have left 26 people dead, 1,260 injured, 3,000 homeless and 1,159 homes burned, according to a report released by the National Service of Disasters Prevention and Response (Senapred). JAVIER TORRES / AFP

Officials said the blazes in south-central Chile, some 280 of which were still burning Monday, have consumed about 270,000 hectares (667,000 acres) of land -- an area larger than the country of Luxembourg.

As the alarm was raised over a new surge in temperatures starting Tuesday after a brief reprieve, a DC-10 air tanker from the United States arrived in the country to join the battle by some 5,600 firefighters against 69 of the highest priority fires.

The craft is capable of dropping 36,000 liters (9,500 gallons) of water.

Chile's SENAPRED emergency response service said the fires have left 1,260 people injured and another 3,000 without homes.

At least one firefighter was among the 26 dead, and eight among the injured.

Aid volunteer Carmen Cuevas told AFP of seeing parts of her hometown of Santa Juana in the hard-hit Biobio region, some 500 kilometers (310 miles) south of the capital Santiago, "turned to ash," as she helped Monday to distribute water to affected people.

Interior Minister Carolina Toha told reporters that in five days of fires, an area was destroyed equivalent to "what is usually burned in two years of fires."

Over the weekend, the minister said Chile was becoming one of the countries most vulnerable to fires due to climate change.

Fire conditions that would have seemed extreme just three years ago are becoming more common, she said.

Chile is experiencing a summer with record temperatures that have repeatedly exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in areas where this has historically been rare.

On Sunday, a plane arrived from Spain with 50 firefighting experts, soldiers and drone pilots to aid in the massive containment operation.

Argentina promised some 60 firefighters as well as trucks and a helicopter, while a contingent of 150 military and civilian specialists arrived from Mexico.

France's President Emmanuel Macron sent a message of support on Twitter, saying: "The Chilean people can count on the support of France to fight against this catastrophe," while Portugal said it was ready to send 140 firefighters.

According to Chile's foreign ministry, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Paraguay and Venezuela have also pledged aid.

"It is wonderful to see how other countries that have their own problems and needs, are allocating their resources to help us right now," Toha said in a message of thanks.

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