Quilpe: The death toll from a forest fire in central Chile has risen to 123. The famous botanical garden in the city of Viña del Mar was completely burnt down. Officials said 200 people were missing in Viña del Mar and surrounding areas. The city has a population of 3,00,000 and is a major tourist destination. Two days of mourning have been announced in the country. A curfew was imposed in Viña del Mar and the nearby towns of Quilpe and Villa Alamana.
President Gabriel Boric visited the town of Quilpe. 64 people died in Quilpe. The president said the death toll was likely to rise as rescue workers searched the damaged homes. The condition of some of those injured and undergoing treatment is critical. The governor of the Valparaiso region alleged that attempts were made to set the fire on purpose. Gabriel Borik also said that such a possibility cannot be ruled out.
8,000 hectares of forest area has been burnt in the fire. Officials asked people in the affected areas to evacuate their homes as soon as possible. At the same time, people in the areas not affected by the fire are advised to stay at home.
