Intense forest fires burning around a densely populated area of central Chile have left at least 19 people dead and destroyed about 1,100 homes, officials said Saturday.
Chile’s Interior Minister Carolina Toha said there were currently 92 forest fires burning in the centre and south of the country, where temperatures have been unusually high this week.
The deadliest of the fires were occurring in the region of Valparaiso, where authorities urged people not to leave their homes so that fire engines, ambulances and other emergency vehicles can travel with greater ease.
Toha did not offer any details about the 19 people killed.
She said
