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Chile fire: 16 dead in Valparaiso | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A forest fire has killed at least 16 people and destroyed hundreds of homes in Chile's port city Valparaiso. | |
Thousands of people have also been evacuated to escape the flames, which were fanned by strong winds. | |
President Michelle Bachelet put the army in charge of the evacuation after declaring the city, 110km (70 miles) west of the Chilean capital, Santiago, a disaster zone. | |
A regional official said it was the "worst catastrophe" he had ever seen. | |
"We fear that the fire will spread to the centre of the city, which would increase the severity of the emergency," regional governor Ricardo Bravo, a life-long resident of Valparaiso, said. | |
The old centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, packed with old buildings that are vulnerable to fire. | |
Difficult job | |
Strong Pacific coast winds have pushed the fire deeper into the neighbourhoods of Valparaiso, hampering the battle to contain the blaze. | |
The city is also built on a series of steep hills, separated by narrow winding streets, making the job of firefighters all the more difficult, says the BBC's Gideon Long in Santiago. | |
Large parts of Valparaiso are without electricity, and residents were said to be suffering from smoke inhalation. | |
President Bachelet is in the city to oversee an emergency committee's response. | |
"The people of Valparaiso have courage, have strength and they aren't alone," she said during a tour of the worst-hit areas. | |
"Families have not only lost their homes and their possessions but also their family memories." | |
She added she feared the number of people killed by the fire could rise. | |
Refuges have been set up to house residents who were forced to flee. | |
The fire started on Saturday, and most of the damage was done overnight. | |
'Hell' | |
Those residents who managed to return to their homes discovered that they had been destroyed. | |
"It's all burned down. My sister's house also burnt to the ground," Rosa Guzman told the Reuters news agency. | |
Another resident said the blaze felt as if "hell encircled my family". | |
"The fire raced down the hills and destroyed everything in its path," Miguel Ramirez told the AFP news agency. | |
This is the second emergency that President Bachelet has had to face in the first month of her second term in office, after an 8.2 earthquake hit northern Chile on 1 April. | |
Fires are frequent in central Chile, where summer sends temperatures soaring. | |
Are you in Valparaiso? Have you been affected by the fire? You can send your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Valparaiso'. | Are you in Valparaiso? Have you been affected by the fire? You can send your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Valparaiso'. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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