Chile burns: the fire reaches the industrial heart of Viña del Mar and mass evacuations are ordered

The devastating fire that erupted on Friday in the densely populated hills surrounding the city of Viña del Mar, approximately 120 kilometers from Santiago de Chile, continues to advance relentlessly and has now reached industrial areas. Several explosions have been reported in chemical warehouses, paint factories, and other storage facilities. Tragically, the death toll has already reached around fifty individuals as of Saturday.

Due to the severity of the situation, authorities have ordered large-scale evacuations in the Villamarin sectors of El Salto, Limonares, Chorrillos, and Canal Chacao. The smoke from the fire has even spread to the beach of Viña del Mar, known as the “garden city” and a popular tourist destination during the summer months.

Mayor Macarena Ripamonti of Viña del Mar acknowledged that this is one of the largest fires in the city’s history.

The Viña del Mar Fire Department shared a video on its X account showing a powerful explosion in a gas tank in Limonares. Local channels also aired images of various paint and chemical factories engulfed in flames, creating a toxic black cloud.

Extreme and unusual temperatures, reaching nearly 38 degrees Celsius, coupled with strong winds and low humidity, are making it difficult to control the fire not only in Viña del Mar but also in other towns in the Valparaíso region. In fact, Quilpué, another town in the region, had to evacuate a hospital due to the nearby flames.

Regarding the cause of the fire, regional governor Rodrigo Mundaca stated, “Evidently, everything indicates that there is an element of intentionality when four simultaneous outbreaks appear just 400 meters from each other.”

As of Saturday, authorities have confirmed the deaths of around fifty people in the region. Unfortunately, the number of victims is expected to rise as rescue teams access the devastated areas.

To aid in rescue and firefighting efforts and to ensure clear evacuation routes, the Chilean Government has implemented a 12-hour curfew from 9:00 p.m. local time (1:00 a.m. Spanish peninsular time) in the towns of Quilpué, Villa Alemana, Limache, and Viña del Mar, where evacuations are still in progress.

The Risk and Disaster Management Committee (COGRID), composed of various authorities and public institutions responsible for making crucial decisions in emergency situations, is scheduled to meet at 7:00 p.m. local time (11:00 p.m. Spanish peninsular time) to assess and update the scale of the tragedy.

Chile experienced its deadliest wave of fires last year, resulting in 27 fatalities and the destruction of thousands of homes in central-southern regions such as La Araucanía, Biobío, and Ñuble.

Although Chile has been experiencing one of the wettest winters in the last 15 years, experts have been cautioning for months that the underlying drought has not been eradicated, making the south-central region of Chile susceptible to the development of fine, dead vegetation that easily ignites.