The Chilean authorities have revised upwards the number of casualties from the fires in the Valparaíso region to 122, with close to 40,000 people affected by the destruction of their homes. The Legal Medical Service of Chile announced that the delivery of bodies to the victims’ families will begin soon, as DNA samples are being collected for identification purposes. However, only 32 bodies have been identified thus far.

Manuel Monsalve, Undersecretary of the Interior of the Chilean Government, referred to the fires as a national tragedy and emphasized that fire control conditions have improved significantly. Although there is no imminent risk to people’s lives, the fires remain active and efforts to control them continue.

165 intentional fires

The authorities believe that the fires were intentional, with 165 fires reported since last Friday. While 40 are still being fought, 112 are under control and four have been extinguished. The Chilean authorities have declared their intention to prosecute those responsible for the fires, citing indications of planning, orchestration, and organized behavior. The general director of Carabineros, Ricardo Yáñez, emphasized the duty to apprehend and hand over the culprits to the Public Ministry.

Governor Rodrigo Mundaca condemned the actions of the perpetrators, describing them as “miserable criminals” who have caused immense damage. He vowed to hold them accountable and expressed grief over the loss of lives and destruction caused by the fires, including the loss of 10,000 hectares and the destruction of the Botanical Garden.