Third-deadliest wildfire of the century struck Chile, killing 122 people.

Flames tore through the residential and commercial districts of Valparaiso, a seaside town in Chile, leaving the streets littered with burned cars, garbage, and ash.

Share on:

In honor of the at least 122 people who perished in a raging wildfire, Chile declared two days of national mourning on Monday. As survivors sort through the charred ruins of their life, search efforts are still underway for the missing.

The third-deadliest wildfire of the century, which tore through populated hilltop districts in the coastal region of Valparaiso, left the streets littered with burned automobiles, trash, and ash.

"Not so much for the material items, but I mean, I lost three neighborhood friends nearby, and four more up there, which is why I still have a lump in my throat. That's the most painful thing," claimed 34-year-old auto mechanic Hugo de Filippi.

One of the hardest-hit regions was the vacation town of Vina del Mar. To aid with the cleanup, volunteers used shovels and brooms to bring in food, drink, and clothing.

"An explanation is lacking. This is truly catastrophic. We are clearing debris today, and after that, we'll bring what each house needs," one volunteer, 23-year-old Camila Perez, stated.

It was unclear whether the burned-out shells of the homes and cars that were consumed by the fire were abandoned or occupied by people attempting to escape the steep roadways of the hillside settlements.

Only 32 of the victims have been identified, according to the state forensic agency's report from Monday, which put the death toll at 122.

While the hunt for victims continued, President Gabriel Boric issued a warning on Sunday, stating that the initial death toll of 112 could rise "significantly."

Vina del Mar, a well-liked tourist destination with beaches and botanical gardens, has had the most deaths.

20,000 people have been impacted by the flames, and the mayor of the town, Macarena Ripamonti, informed reporters on Sunday that "190 people are still missing" in the city.

Monday between 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., authorities extended the curfew to allow for cleanup and forensic services work.

"It only took ten minutes."
Due to wind and a severe heatwave that has seen temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), the number of fires in the area increased on Friday.

Authorities are looking into if they were intentionally started.

Although the weather was becoming better, troops were still battling over 40 flames across the nation.

Welder Abraham Mardones, 24, who escaped his Vina del Mar home that was on fire, told AFP he just made it out of the rapidly spreading fire.

"The fire was visible on the slope ahead of us. When we looked outside once more, the flames had already reached our home's walls. It was done in ten minutes or less. The whole hill caught fire," he remarked.

Everything was destroyed by the fire: homes, comforts, and memories. All that was left of me were my overalls and some gift-sized sneakers, Mardones said to the AFP. "I was limited to rescuing my dog."

He claimed to have discovered numerous neighbors dead in the fire when he returned on Sunday.

"Carrying the burned bodies of their brother, their father, and their daughter," friends drove by in a truck.

"RAINING ASH"
Interior Minister Carolina Toha declared that the fires over the weekend were "without a doubt" the deadliest in Chilean history.

El Olivar resident Rodrigo Pulgar told AFP, "This was an inferno." I attempted to assist my neighbor. Behind us, my house was beginning to fire. Ash was pouring down.

Pope Francis, a native of Argentina, asked for prayers for the "dead and wounded in the devastating fires in Chile" during his Sunday speech.

The El Nino weather phenomena is causing a summer hot and drought in southern South America, which is fueling the fires. Scientists caution that the likelihood of natural disasters like wildfires has increased due to global warming.