American Invest Hub
  • Politics
  • Investing
  • Business
  • Latest News

American Invest Hub

  • Politics
  • Investing
  • Business
  • Latest News
Latest News

Wildfires that are turning neighborhoods to ash are likely Chile’s deadliest on record, UN agency says

by admin February 7, 2024
February 7, 2024
Wildfires that are turning neighborhoods to ash are likely Chile’s deadliest on record, UN agency says

The devastating wildfires tearing across large parts of Chile are believed to be the country’s deadliest on record, according to the United Nations disaster agency, as firefighters struggle to contain more than 160 blazes after days of burning.

The fires have claimed at least 123 lives and hundreds of people are still missing, according to Chilean authorities. Officials also said that 33 bodies have been identified and 79 autopsies have been conducted.

Hundreds more remain missing and the death toll is expected to rise, according to the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The wildfires have devastated swaths of central and northern Chile, destroying thousands of homes and buildings and turning neighborhoods to ash.

President Gabriel Boric said Tuesday the fires are the “biggest tragedy” in the country since the deadly 2010 earthquake – a magnitude 8.8 that killed hundreds.

“The inhabitants of Viña del Mar, of Quilpué, of Villa Alemana, have gone through and are experiencing a situation that has been tremendously catastrophic, exceptional, unprecedented and painful,” he said Tuesday.

Boric declared a state of emergency Sunday as coastal cities including Viña del Mar and Valparaiso choked with smoke, when fires moved from forested to urban areas. Aerial shots of Viña del Mar show scorched streets and row upon row of destroyed homes.

The president declared Monday and Tuesday as days of national mourning for fire victims.

Chile’s catastrophic fires have been driven by the impacts of El Niño — a natural climate fluctuation that has a global heating effect — colliding with the longterm trend of global warming, which is fueling more intense and more frequent drought and heat waves.

For the last decade, Chile has been grappling with a “mega-drought,” the longest there in at least 1,000 years, putting pressure on water supplies and drying up the landscape, priming it for fire.

The country has also been scorched by abnormally high temperatures in recent days. Chile’s capital Santiago reached 37.3 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit) on January 31, the country’s third-highest recorded temperature in more than a century, according to the World Meteorological Agency.

The past few years have seen a dramatic increase in wildfire activity in Chile, according to a January study published in the journal Nature, as high temperatures, drought and strong winds have combined to create perfect conditions for intense and destructive fires.

A total of 1.7 million hectares have burned in the country over the last decade, the study found.

This post appeared first on cnn.com

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Is Quantum Computing the Next Big Tech Trend?
next post
Militants squabble over fate of New Zealand pilot on anniversary of his kidnapping

Related Posts

‘There’s no more life’: Khan Younis residents return...

April 10, 2024

Worker unions take Trump admin to court over...

February 7, 2025

Hamas counterproposal on hostage and ceasefire deal calls...

February 8, 2024

Protesting farmers hurl eggs and clog streets with...

February 1, 2024

Nipah virus death puts health officials on alert...

July 22, 2024

French rail lines disrupted by ‘coordinated sabotage’ ahead...

July 26, 2024

Gold prices surge as Fed signals a slower...

October 1, 2024

‘Be fearless’: Taylor Swift will make it home...

February 4, 2024

What every investor needs to know as the...

March 11, 2025

Gaza population at risk of famine as it...

June 27, 2024

    Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions. Sign up now and be the first to know! As a member, you'll receive curated content, insider tips, and invitations to exclusive events. Don't miss out on being part of something special.


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Latest News

    • Europe bulletin: Manchester synagogue attack aftermath, stocks close higher

      October 5, 2025
    • Evening digest: Trump sets deadline for Hamas, Canada’s slowdown, BTC rebounds

      October 5, 2025
    • Iran executes six people for alleged links to Israel, state media reports

      October 5, 2025
    • US digest: Trump’s Hamas ultimatum, government shutdown stalemate continues

      October 5, 2025
    • Japanese stocks may extend record run as Takaichi win revives ‘Abenomics’

      October 5, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (4,191)
    • Investing (2,958)
    • Latest News (2,080)
    • Politics (1,536)
    • About us
    • Contact us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: americaninvesthub.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 americaninvesthub.com | All Rights Reserved