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(CNN Spanish) - At least 150 homes have been affected by forest fires in Valparaíso that could have been intentional, the mayor of the region, Jorge Martínez Durán, told a news conference on Wednesday.
Martínez Durán clarified that this number may increase as the counting phase continues once the fire is controlled, while noting that at the moment there is no loss of life or serious injury.
(Credit: ZAMORA / ATON CHILE / AFP via Getty Images)
"It is not controlled but very content with low probability that it will continue to advance to sectors with housing," Martínez Durán said, adding that he expects the fires to be fully controlled on Wednesday.
Due to the characteristics of the fire and the testimonies of some neighbors, authorities have determined that the fires were caused intentionally. Martínez said that the responsibility of third parties in this fire is already being investigated.
The mayor of Valparaíso explained that 68 fire units with more than 600 volunteer firefighters and 18 aerial means try to control forest fires.
The president of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, lamented the fires on Christmas Eve and through his Twitter account said that government institutions "work tirelessly" to control the fires.
Forest firesValparaíso