- Satellite images reveal extensive damage caused by devastating wildfires in Chile’s Valparaíso region, with entire neighborhoods destroyed in Viña del Mar.
- The death toll from the wildfires has risen to 122, with only 32 victims identified, and President Gabriel Boric warns it is likely to increase further.
- Viña del Mar, a popular tourist destination, is the hardest hit, with 190 people still missing. The wildfires were fueled by strong winds and an intense heatwave.
Additional Coverage:
New satellite images have revealed the extensive damage caused by the devastating wildfires in Chile’s Valparaíso region, which have claimed the lives of at least 122 people. The images, taken by space technology company Maxar on Monday, show entire neighborhoods destroyed in the eastern area of the resort town of Viña del Mar. Although the images do not show active wildfires, they display the burn scars left behind by the flames.
Chile’s state forensic agency reported on Monday that the death toll had reached 122, with only 32 of the victims identified. President Gabriel Boric had warned the previous day that the initial death toll of 112 was likely to rise significantly. Viña del Mar, a popular tourist destination known for its beaches and gardens, has been the hardest hit, with the town’s mayor, Macarena Ripamonti, stating that 190 people are still missing.
The wildfires, which started on Friday in the Valparaíso region, were fueled by strong winds and an intense heatwave, with temperatures reaching around 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
Satellite images provided below showcase the areas devastated by the wildfires.