"My neighbors, the people who knew me when I was little, died, and my parents' and sisters' house burned." As "family that is not of blood but of the heart."
As the fires seemed to be going out on their own, over 300 people were still unaccounted for and the death toll from the wildfires that devastated central Chile for several days rose to 131 on Tuesday.
Chile's deadliest tragedy since an earthquake in 2010 is thought to be the Valparaiso flames. Certain ones could have been purposefully placed, according to officials.
Chairs used for the Pan American Games in 2023 will be donated to victims, President Gabriel Boric declared during a visit to the area. For 9,200 impacted residences, he added, the government will also waive their water expenses.
On Friday, the flames started in the forested eastern region of Viña del Mar, a popular beach town that hosts a festival that draws top Latin musicians. Due to the rapid spread of the flames caused by the dry weather and high winds, Quilpé and Villa Alemana were also severely affected.
In observance of sadness, the Viña del Mar Festival called off its first gala. Alejandro Sanz, Pablo Alborán, and Maná are just a few of the performers that declared donations and conveyed words of solidarity while taking part.
According to Chile's Forensic Medical Service, forensic experts will get genetic material samples from family who report missing persons, even though many of the remains retrieved from the flames were in poor condition and impossible to identify.
Gabriel Leiva, 46, was searching amid wreckage in Viña del Mar when he remarked, "My neighbors, the people who knew me when I was little, died, and my parents' and sisters' house burned." As "family that is not of blood but of the heart," he described his neighbors.
In a statement, the United Nations expressed sympathy and pledged support. In the meanwhile, Boric praised US President Joe Biden for "his important support" in a tweet after the catastrophe.
End//voice7news.tv
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