The Investment Whisperer
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Investing
  • World
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Investing
  • World

The Investment Whisperer

World

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
Tim Scott responds to Trump considering him for vice president: ‘The only thing I can tell you is…’
next post
Militants squabble over fate of New Zealand pilot on anniversary of his kidnapping

Related Posts

‘Intense phase of war with Hamas about to...

June 25, 2024

Hunt widens for man who allegedly threw scalding...

September 9, 2024

Brazil ex-leader Bolsonaro rallies thousands of supporters to...

June 30, 2025

ISIS chief in Iraq and Syria has been...

March 15, 2025

Putin says a Biden presidency is better for...

February 17, 2024

Toddler held in US after parents’ deportation has...

May 15, 2025

Supporters of Bolivia’s ex-leader Morales clash with police...

May 17, 2025

Russia unleashes fresh barrage of missiles and drones...

January 14, 2024

The ‘world’s largest’ vacuum to suck climate pollution...

May 10, 2024

Fighting in Africa’s mineral-rich DRC killed over 3,000...

February 12, 2025

    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.

    Categories

    • Business (1,553)
    • Investing (4,249)
    • Politics (5,639)
    • World (4,762)
    • About us
    • Contact us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: TheInvestmentWhisperer.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 © 2024 TheInvestmentWhisperer.com | All Rights Reserved