Questions and Answers about the fires in Valparaiso, Chile
The Valparaiso region in central Chile is battling the deadliest wave of fires in its recent history. The flames have already taken the lives of many people 64 people, as per the latest update from the government. The emergency has already become the one with the highest number of deaths since the 2010 earthquake, when more than 500 people died, according to I have remembered The country’s Health Minister, Carolina Toha.
“We still have a large part of the area inaccessible, as a result we do not have a complete survey of the victims,” Toha warned.
when the fire broke out
The fire started in the morning last Friday, February 2 and spread rapidly due to the high and unusual temperatures being recorded in the area. According to the EFE report, strong wind gusts up to 60 kilometers per hour and low humidity have further increased the heat.
How many fires are active in Chile and what area do they cover?
According to the latest update from Chile’s National Forestry Corporation, there are currently at least 12 active fires in the Valparaíso region. Of that dozen, seven are fighting, four are considered controlled and one is under surveillance. The number of hectares affected is more than 11,000.
Which are the most affected areas?
Chile is organized territorially in the following way: the country is divided into 16 regions, which in turn are divided into 56 provinces. These provinces are also divided into 346 communes (which would be equivalent to municipalities).
According to the National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (CENAPRED), the most relevant fire is Las Tablas Complex-Lake Penuelas ReserveWhich affected the communities of Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, affecting approximately 9,400 hectares of land.
There is also concern about MoscosoWhich occurs in the communes of Quilpué and Villa Alemana and has already extended to more than 1,300 hectares.
The third fire highlighted in the report is Tranque La Luz 3Also in the commune of Valparaíso, which has affected 50 hectares so far.
How much damage has been caused by the fire in Chile?
Home and family. Senapred says the fire in the Las Tablas-Lago reserve complex has “preliminarily estimated the loss of approximately 1,000 homes and damage has not yet been assessed.” The damage caused to 100 houses in Lo Moscoso is also being assessed.
telecommunication, At least 137 antennas have been damaged by the fire, causing instability in telecommunications.
transportation. Metro service that connects the communes of Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Quilpúy, Villa Alemana and Limache (known as Metro Valparaíso or Merval) has been disrupted indefinitely. Apart from this, at least two bus terminals have been set on fire.
What steps has the government taken
Chile’s President Gabriel Boric, decree “To make all necessary resources available” from Friday to Saturday at dawn due to the state of emergency caused by the disaster. In some communes, such as Limache, Quilpué, Villa Alemana and Viña del Mar also has been ordered Curfew.
If evacuation is necessary, Senapred has announced This will send a signal to mobile phones through the emergency alert system, as we have in Spain and which is activated, for example, upon the arrival of DANA. However, Chile’s Health Minister has indicated That they were facing “unprecedented difficulties while evacuating”.
What is the origin of fire?
President Boric Has promised One of his government’s priorities this February 4 is to “collect information to investigate the origin of the fire.”
However, the Health Minister, have reported That “there is serious evidence that the most serious fire, Las Tablas, may have been of deliberate origin. These types of rumors always come up, but this time they are serious background information from reliable people.
What factors have contributed to the severity of this wave of fires in Chile?
According to the EFE agency, although Chile has experienced one of the rainiest winters in the last 15 years, experts have been warning for months that the drought is not over and that there is a high probability that the fine, dead Vegetation will develop. The central-southern zone of easy combustion, to which will be added the influence of a forestry model based on monoculture of pine and eucalyptus.
sources say
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T13 X count
EFE Agency: ‘Borrick travels to areas affected by devastating fires and says Chile will stand up’
CONAF
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile: Territorial Organization
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Account of X by Gabriel Boric
Ex’s account of Chile’s Carabineros
X’s account of the Chilean firefighters
CNN Chile’s X Account
EFE agency: ‘Chile is facing its biggest emergency since 2010 and is preparing for another night among the flames’