Hundreds of individuals remain unaccounted for as the wildfires that swept through central Chile, claiming the lives of 123 individuals, seem to be subsiding. The devastation in Valparaiso, termed as Chile’s deadliest calamity since the 2010 earthquake, is under scrutiny, with suspicions of deliberate ignition.
President Gabriel Boric, during his visit to the region on Tuesday, lamented the loss of at least 3,000 homes due to the rapid spread of fires propelled by dry conditions and fierce winds. The conflagration, which ignited last Friday in the mountainous outskirts of Viña del Mar, a renowned beach resort celebrated for its Latin music festival, also severely impacted Quilpé and Villa Alemana.
In a gesture of solidarity and mourning, the Viña del Mar Festival called off its opening gala. Renowned artists such as Alejandro Sanz, Pablo Alborán, and Maná expressed condolences and pledged support through donations.
The identification process of the deceased faces challenges, with the Chilean Forensic Medical Service noting the poor condition of many recovered bodies. Genetic material samples from relatives of the missing are being collected to aid in the identification efforts.
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Gabriel Leiva, 46, shared his anguish amidst the rubble in Viña del Mar, where his family’s home was among the casualties, along with the lives of neighbors whom he considered as cherished as blood relatives.
