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| Chile fire in Valparaiso kills 12 and forces thousands to evacuate | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| More than 10,000 people have been evacuated from Chile's port city of Valparaiso to escape a moving fire that has killed at least 12 residents. | |
| Some 1,200 firefighters are battling the large blaze, which has destroyed hundreds of homes since Saturday. | Some 1,200 firefighters are battling the large blaze, which has destroyed hundreds of homes since Saturday. |
| President Michelle Bachelet put the army in charge of the evacuation after declaring the city, 110km (70 miles) west of Santiago, a disaster zone. | President Michelle Bachelet put the army in charge of the evacuation after declaring the city, 110km (70 miles) west of Santiago, a disaster zone. |
| Security forces are on the streets to maintain order and prevent looting. | Security forces are on the streets to maintain order and prevent looting. |
| Earlier, the authorities said 16 residents had died, but it turned out that one family had been counted twice. | Earlier, the authorities said 16 residents had died, but it turned out that one family had been counted twice. |
| One official said it was the "worst catastrophe" he had ever seen. | One 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. | "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. | The old centre is a Unesco World Heritage Site, packed with old buildings that are vulnerable to fire. |
| Difficult job | Difficult job |
| Strong Pacific coast winds have pushed the fire deeper into the neighbourhoods of Valparaiso, hampering the battle to contain the blaze. | Strong Pacific coast winds have pushed the fire deeper into the neighbourhoods of Valparaiso, hampering the battle to contain the blaze. |
| The city is 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. | The city is 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. | 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. | 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. | "The people of Valparaiso have courage, have strength and they aren't alone," she said during a tour of the worst-hit areas. |
| "In some places the fires have started again so we're working on this and people will continue to be protected," the president added. | "In some places the fires have started again so we're working on this and people will continue to be protected," the president added. |
| Temporary shelters have been set up for residents who were forced to flee. | Temporary shelters have been set up for residents who were forced to flee. |
| The Chilean Red Cross has appealed for donations, such as food and other basic supplies, to help those who were left homeless. | The Chilean Red Cross has appealed for donations, such as food and other basic supplies, to help those who were left homeless. |
| "We will send all of this to the people because they lost everything," a Red Cross volunteer told the BBC. | "We will send all of this to the people because they lost everything," a Red Cross volunteer told the BBC. |
| The fire started on Saturday, and most of the damage was done overnight. | The fire started on Saturday, and most of the damage was done overnight. |
| 'Hell' | 'Hell' |
| Those residents who managed to return to their homes discovered that they had been destroyed. | 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. | "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". | 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. | "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. | 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. | 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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