(See 'Chile: state of emergency due to fires...' at 08:27) The fires that have been out of control for days in Chile, in the central region of Valparaíso, may have caused "up to 16 deaths", destroyed 6,000 hectares of forest and 1,100 houses: Interior Minister Carolina Tohá told journalists last night (the Italian morning).
Meanwhile, the government has imposed a morning curfew in four locations, as well as declaring a state of emergency for the provinces of Valparaíso and Marga Marga.
Tohá acknowledged that "there is still no certainty about the number of deaths caused by forest fires", but that "there are two preliminary reports which speak of ten and 16 victims".
A certain balance of deaths and damage, she added, can be provided after the morning meeting of the Disaster Risk Management Committee (Cogrid), in the presence of Rear Admiral Daniel Muñoz, designated head of National Defense in this emergency.
Finally, the minister indicated that to facilitate the work of firefighters and rescue teams, a morning curfew (8:00-12:00) has been established starting today in four locations: Limache, Quilpué, Villa Alemana and Viña del Mar.
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