President Gabriel Boric spoke of a “tragedy”. He warned that the toll could rise further. At this stage, 112 deaths have been confirmed but 200 people are missing.
The death toll has risen considerably in Chile as thousands of firefighters are still battling major forest fires in the center of the country.
At least 112 people lost their lives, mainly in the seaside resort of Viña del Mar, where a famous botanical garden founded in 1931 was destroyed by flames on Sunday.
At least 1,600 people were left homeless and around 200 people are still missing.
On Sunday morning, Chilean President Gabriel Boric visited the town of Quilpé, also heavily affected by the fires. The president said the death toll could rise as rescuers search houses that collapsed. Some of those who arrived at the hospital were also in critical condition.
Rodrigo Mundaca, the governor of the Valparaiso region, where Viña del Mar and other affected towns are located, said Sunday that he believed some of the fires may have been started intentionally, echoing a theory also floated Saturday by President Boric.
“These fires started at four points which ignited simultaneously”said Mundaca. “As authorities, we will have to work rigorously to determine those responsible.”
The fires around Viña del Mar started in mountainous forest areas that are difficult to access. But they have settled into densely populated neighborhoods on the city’s outskirts, despite efforts by Chilean authorities to slow the flames.
On Saturday, Boric said unusually high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds were making it difficult to control wildfires in central Chile, which have already ravaged some 26,000 hectares.
The president declared two days of national mourning. “All of Chile is suffering,” he said. “But we will rise once more.”
Authorities have asked residents in areas affected by the fires to evacuate their homes as quickly as possible, while people furthest from the fires have been asked to stay at home to facilitate the passage of fire trucks and ambulances. .
Curfews were declared in Viña del Mar and the neighboring towns of Quilpé and Villa Alemana as part of an effort to prevent looting.
The fires broke out during a week of record temperatures in central Chile. Over the past two months, the El Niño weather phenomenon has brought droughts and high temperatures to western South America, also increasing the risk of wildfires.
