The death of a 45-year-old man on Friday brought to 14 the death toll from the forest fires that have been raging for days in the Maule and La Araucanía regions of south-central Chile.
The new victim died in the commune of Purén, in La Araucanía, as confirmed by the presidential provincial delegate in Malleco, Andrea Parra, quoted by Radio Biobío. The man’s body was found by his own relatives.
Parra explained that it is estimated that at least 120 houses have been destroyed by the fire in the Purén area and the National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (Senapred) has already asked for a complete evacuation of the town of Purén.
Of the total number of deaths, eleven are from the commune of Santa Juana, in the Biobío region, including Yesenia Muñoz, a firefighter who died during control work.
A light aircraft pilot and his companion died in the commune of Galvarino, in the Araucanía region, after the aircraft crashed while on its way to control forest fires.
According to Chile’s Minister of the Interior, Carolina Tohá, four other deceased were caught in the flames while flying in the commune of Santa Juana.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
