Residents of the
Valparaíso region, Chile,
affected by the fires continued working on Tuesday to
remove debris,
while the official damage count began to evaluate the size of the catastrophe for the delivery of aid.
It is also being investigated whether the fire was intentional.
At least
131 people died in the fires
, according to the latest official information, in the event described by the authorities as
the worst in number of victims
since the earthquake of February 27, 2010.
Members of the Chilean Navy clean burned ruins in Villa Independencia, in Vina del Mar. Photo: AP
More than 300 people are still missing, according to what was reported by Mayor Macarena Ripamonti of Viña del Mar, one of the most affected cities.
With
more favorable weather conditions, fog, humidity
and greater control of the outbreaks, President Gabriel Boric met in the area on Tuesday with Ripamonti and other authorities such as the mayor of Quilpué, another of the affected towns.
“I came to live here when I was 8 years old, I grew up here, I lived my childhood, my youth, my maturity here, until I left.
My parents' and my sisters' house burned and my neighbors died, the people who knew me when I was little," said Gabriel Leiva, 46, while working in the Olivar sector in Viña del Mar, one of the most affected. .
Leiva stated that “here
we are shouldering it as Chileans
who fall to the bottom and get back up again” and highlighted the solidarity received by those who are collaborating in the reconstruction tasks.
“We have stopped a thousand times and this is going to be the thousand and one,” he said.
Neighbors who lost their homes live in tents.
Photo: AP
In Santiago and other parts of the country,
large collection centers were organized
where Chileans began to send water, non-perishable food, cleaning and hygiene products, blankets and food for animals, also affected by the fires.
Many volunteer veterinarians have also come to
help animals
that were injured by the fire.
There were lines of people at vaccination centers in the region to
receive the tetanus vaccine
while special attention was offered to those who suffered eye damage as a result of the showers
of flying sparks
that occurred on Friday, at the height of the fires that consumed more than 20,000 hectares in just three days.
Members of the Chilean Navy collaborate with the tasks.
Photo: AP
The Viña del Mar Festival
canceled its opening gala
as a sign of mourning.
Many of the singers who will participate in that event—such as Alejandro Sanz, Pablo Alborán and Maná—sent messages of solidarity to Chile and
announced donations.
The singer Daddy Yankee also sent his love on social networks and highlighted the resilience of the Chilean people.
The United Nations highlighted in a message that the organization's secretary general was able to see first-hand on a recent trip the generosity of the Chilean people, offered his condolences and expressed his "solidarity" with the Chilean government "at this difficult time."
He also announced the sending of aid.