Helicopters
dropped thousands of gallons of water on the outskirts of the Chilean port city
of Valparaiso today to extinguish a fire that has destroyed more than 200
homes.
Dozens of
people living in the city’s Rocuant and San Roque hills sifted through the
ruins of their homes after strong winds whipped the blaze through their
neighbourhoods yesterday. Residents had been evacuated and there were no
reports of casualties.
The fire
destroyed more than 200 homes and affected more than 1,000 people, Agriculture
Minister Antonio Walker said.
Earlier,
Interior Minister Gonzalo Blumel said authorities believe arson caused the
blaze and urged people to report any suspicious activity.
Emergency
manager for Valparaíso, said Ezio Passadore, said “We’re not certain, but
everything indicates that yesterday’s fire was intentional, and began in an
area quite close to the homes,”.
The fire was
doused in urban areas but remained “active” in the woods, said Ricardo Toro,
head of Chile’s national emergency office.
Many homes
in the low-income neighbourhoods where the fire occurred don’t have running
water and get their supply from tanker trucks a couple of times a week.
Wildfires have affected parts of Valparaiso several times in the last month as Chile contends with its worst drought on record.
