Chile: Death toll continues to rise amid severe wildfires ongoing in parts of Valparaiso Region as of Feb. 5 /update 3

The death toll continues to rise as authorities continue to respond to major wildfires across parts of Valparaiso Region as of Feb. 5. As of early Feb. 5, authorities have confirmed at least 112 fatalities associated with the fires and around 14,000 homes in the Vina del Mar and Quilpue areas are reported to have been damaged. The National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (SENAPRED) is maintaining red warnings (the highest level on a three-tier scale) for three fires in Valparaiso and Marga Marga provinces as of early Feb. 5. Areas near the fires, including Enaco and Invica, remain under evacuation orders. The fires have burned more than 10,000 hectares (24,711 acres) and around 14,000 personnel are on-site tackling the blazes.

A state of emergency has been declared in the region due to the severity of the wildfires. Curfews have been imposed in Limache, Quilpue, Villa Alemana, and Vina del Mar overnight Feb. 3-4 and Feb. 4-5 to facilitate the movement of emergency vehicles and ensure public safety during the ongoing wildfires; authorities have stated that curfews will likely continue over the coming days. The fires have spread rapidly amid windy and hot conditions in the region and the Chilean Meteorological Directorate is maintaining yellow high-temperature warnings (the lowest level on a three-tier scale) across interior parts of Valparaiso Region through Feb. 6; however, authorities have stated that they hope to have the fire contained within the next few days.

The status of roads can change over the coming hours and days; authorities could close more routes and evacuate more communities due to fire activity and response operations needs. Traffic disruptions are also likely during reentry periods after authorities lift evacuation orders. Low visibility from smoke and possible ashfall could contribute to traffic delays and congestion in the region.

Smoke and ashfall from wildfires may cause poor air quality in surrounding areas. Power outages and utilities that rely on electricity could experience outages within and near the wildfire complex. Smoke from fires is a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees, plants, and possibly building materials. Such smoke can hurt the eyes, irritate the respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases. Smoke may also worsen symptoms for people with preexisting respiratory conditions, such as allergies, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).