Investigation launched to
determine if Chile wildfires an act of arson
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| A man looks at the destruction caused by a forest fire in Valparaiso (AFP) |
An investigation is launched into wildfires, which have
swept through the port city of Valparaiso destroying more than two hundred
homes. Authorities are blaming arsonists.
By James Blears
The wildfires swept through the wooded hillsides of Rocuant
and San Roque. Police are investigating reports that vehicles were seen
in the area, at the time the fires started. Against an orange skyline,
houses blazed and there`s been a mass evacuation of more than a thousand
people. An ashen Christmas, but mercifully no reported casualties. People
have returned to sift through the charred remains including Christmas
trees.
Minister of the Interior Gonzalo Blumel says the fires were
started deliberately and the full weight of the law will be applied to those
responsible. Ezio Passadore who`s Valpraiso`s Emergency Manager agrees
cautioning: "We`re not certain, but everything indicates that the fires
were intentional." Fire Fighters` helicopters have been dousing down
with thousands of gallons of water. The urban area appears to have been
quelled, but this isn`t the case in nearby wooded areas.
The affected and scorched homes are in a modest income
zone, some of which is without domestic running water. Tankers deliver it twice
weekly.
Chile`s President Sebastian Pinera has said he`s very sad
this has happened, especially at Christmas time. He`s ordered the
creation of a special committee which will help with the reconstruction of
homes. A State of Emergency has been declared by Jorge Sharpe, who`s the
Mayor of Valparaiso, which is 113 kms North West of the Capitol Santiago.
This isn`t the first time wildfires have burned tragedy into
Valparaiso. As recently as 2014, blazes destroyed more than two thousand
homes, killing twelve people.
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