One person deceased in the commune of Bulnes, Ñuble region, was confirmed by the Ministry of the Interior amid the serious emergency caused by the wildfires affecting a large part of the south-central part of the country. The news was confirmed by the Minister of the Interior, Álvaro Elizalde, who lamented the death and stated that it is an event that "saddens us deeply," as firefighting and evacuation efforts continue in high-risk areas.
According to the report provided by the authority, there are currently 24 active wildfires nationwide, of which 9 are concentrated in the Ñuble region and 5 in the Biobío region, these being the areas most affected by the emergency.
In light of this scenario, the President of the Republic, Gabriel Boric, decreed a State of Constitutional Exception of Catastrophe for both regions, a measure that allows the deployment of the Armed Forces and the adoption of extraordinary measures to safeguard the population's security and reinforce firefighting efforts.
Extensive deployment of resources
Minister Elizalde detailed that an extensive deployment of personnel and resources has been arranged on the ground. In Ñuble, 11 aircraft and 10 brigades are operating, while in Biobío, 13 aircraft and 25 brigades are working, in addition to support from Firefighters, Carabineros, the PDI (Investigative Police), and the Armed Forces.
In the case of Firefighters, the deployment includes 1,200 volunteers and 168 trucks in Ñuble, and 2,500 firefighters with 264 trucks in Biobío, who have worked intensely throughout the night.
Likewise, Carabineros reinforced its presence with 120 additional officers from the Non-Commissioned Officers School in Concepción, while the PDI is deployed to begin investigations to determine the origin of the fires, in coordination with the Public Prosecutor's Office.
Mass evacuations and injured persons
During yesterday and the early hours of this Sunday, 87 SAE alerts have been issued, leading to the evacuation of more than 50 thousand people in both regions. The main objective, the minister emphasized, is "to protect people's lives and avoid fatal consequences."
In addition to the deceased in Bulnes, it was reported that there are 14 injured people in the Ñuble region and 5 injured in the Biobío region, figures that could increase as safer access to the affected areas is gained.
Currently, more than 160 people are reported sheltered in Ñuble, distributed across 6 shelters, and more than 700 sheltered in Biobío, in 8 facilities enabled for the emergency.
Curfew evaluation
Within the framework of the State of Constitutional Exception of Catastrophe, the Government did not rule out the implementation of a curfew, especially during the night, as a preventive measure to avoid new fire outbreaks and facilitate the work of emergency teams.
"The state of exception allows for the limitation of certain rights and freedoms, and the decree of a curfew to restrict people's movement during critical hours will be evaluated in a timely manner," stated Elizalde, indicating that announcements will be made during the day.
Adverse conditions and call for responsibility
From the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf), the regional director of Biobío, Esteban Krause, warned that in the Penco fire alone, more than 5 thousand hectares were counted as burned in a few hours, describing the situation as "a catastrophe affecting many families."
Authorities warned that the high temperatures and strong winds projected for the coming hours could worsen the situation, so they reiterated the call for citizens to follow official instructions and evacuate immediately upon receiving an SAE alert.
Finally, the Minister of the Interior confirmed that President Gabriel Boric will travel to the affected area to see the magnitude of the emergency firsthand and reinforce support and reconstruction measures for the affected families.
Photo: BiobioChile
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Leave a comment