Intense forest fire grips central Chile area, killing over 50 people. Chile's president Gabriel Boric told the nation that the situation is "really very difficult". The emergency fire and rescue services are struggling to doze off the fire from spreading to more urban areas.
Helicopters and trucks are used by the firefighters to quell the fires. However, rescue teams are finding it difficult to reach all the affected areas. The fire has already spread to densely populated areas in central Chile, threatening lives. The Valparaiso region in Chile is home to nearly 1 million people. The worst hit is the coastal city of Vina del Mar.
Interior Minister Carolina Toha said "The condition of Valparaiso is the most delicate." Thousands were asked to evacuate the region immediately.
The country is facing its worst disaster since the 2010 earthquake that killed around 500 people.
According to Boric the death toll is likely to rise. He also urged the Chileans to cooperate with rescue workers. "The fires are advancing fast and climatic conditions have made them difficult to control," he added.
Toh said earlier on Saturday that 92 forest fires were burning in the center and south of the country.
Two fires near the towns of Quilpu and Villa Alemana had burned through at least 8,000 hectares (19,770 acres) since Friday, said Toh.
Rolando Fernndez, one of the residents who lost his home in Villa Independencia said he have been there for 32 years and never imagined this would happen, reported The Associated Press.
Three shelters were set up in the Valparaso region, and 19 helicopters and over 450 firefighters were brought into the area to help battle the blazes, Toh said.
As a result of the fire, power blackouts were reported in many regions as well.
In January, more than 17,000 hectares (42,000 acres) of forests were destroyed in Colombia by fires that followed several weeks of dry weather.
