Chile blaze: historic city Valparaiso devastated, declared catastrophe zone

[webfact]

Chile blaze: historic city Valparaiso devastated, declared catastrophe zone

VALPARAISO: -- At least 12 people were killed and 2,000 houses destroyed over the weekend by a fire that devastated parts of the Chilean port city of Valparaiso, as authorities evacuated thousands and sent in aircraft to battle the blaze. "It is a terrible tragedy, without doubt the worst fire in the history of Valparaiso," President Michelle Bachelet declared after arriving in the city to oversee the emergency response to the disaster.

Pushed by strong Pacific coast winds, the fire started on Saturday and rampaged over 700 hectares (1,700 acres) of forest and hilly residential neighborhoods including La Cruz and Las Canas, authorities said.

"It is still not completely extinguished," said local government official Ricardo Bravo, referring to lingering pockets of fire still burning in the higher parts of the city Sunday night.

During the day firefighters used planes and helicopters to drop water on the flames in the city 135 km (85 miles) northwest of Santiago, where makeshift shelters started taking in the newly homeless.

"Families have not only lost their homes and their possessions but also their family memories," she lamented during a tour of the worst-hit areas.The cause of the inferno remains under investigation. Bachelet has declared the area a disaster zone, allowing the armed forces to assist in the relief efforts.

The stench of smoke and charred wood shrouded Valparaiso as dawn broke, with firefighters still working to battle the flames that so far has ravaged just under 2,000 acres (809 hectares).

Full story: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_04_13/Chile-blaze-16-dead-thousands-evacuated-2748/

-- THE VOICE OF RUSSIA 2014-04-14

[Costas2008]

Feel sorry for the people.