Chile: Boric thanked the help of “friendly countries” to put out forest fires

The president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, took stock of what have been the forest fires in the central and southern part of the trans-Andean country and thanked the “friendly countries” that have provided help, including Argentina, Mexico, the United States and Spain, and called for unity to “move forward.” As a government we continue to be deployed on the ground, seeing first-hand how coordination and work are being carried out to save lives and put out the fire,” the president said at a press conference. Boric also referred to the aid requested by the government of Chile to fight the fires, and said that different countries “have promptly acceded to our call with a disinterested cooperation that moves,” as were the aid of Argentina, Mexico, the United States and Spain. “I reiterate on behalf of the Republic of Chile our gratitude to all these friendly countries,” said Boric.The president also referred to the families of the victims of the forest fires, which already amount to 26 deceased people, where he reaffirmed the commitment to “not leave alone” the victims and that the Government will be contacting them to “provide all the help that is necessary.” The National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (Senapred) reported that there are already 26 deaths due to the series of forest fires affecting the center-south of Chile. In addition, there are 3,276 victims and 1,156 homes destroyed by the igneous outbreaks between the regions of Maule and La Araucanía, in addition to three health facilities that ended up destroyed by the flames. In total there are 280 active fires, of which 69 are in combat and 161 have already been controlled.” United Chileans are going to stop this fire and we are going to stand up as we have always done in difficult times and in moments of catastrophe, “closed Boric.Currently there are 895 firefighters and 2,357 brigades of the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf) supporting the affected areas, in addition to 10 water tanks of Carabineros and 66 public aircraft, And they are waiting for 60 planes and helicopters that private companies made available to the authorities. 128 SAE (Mobile Emergency Alert System) alerts have also been sent due to forest fires for people to evacuate populated areas. The SAE is a massive alert through cell phones with text, audio and vibration, which are emitted for any type of emergency that puts the population at risk such as tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruptions and forest fires. During the day, the first foreign aid from Spain, Mexico and Argentina also began to arrive, in addition to the US aircraft Ten Tanker with a large water carrying capacity to put out forest fires. The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, through the National Fire Management Service (SNMF), deployed the first group of Argentine brigades in Chile to fight forest fires after the Boric government requested help. Minister Juan Cabandié ordered the sending of more than 60 forest fire fighters with 4×4 vehicles and forestry equipment, in a transfer that is carried out in stages. Spain, for its part, provided six advisors from the UME Headquarters (Headquarters of the Military Emergency Unit), experts in the fight against forest fires; 38 soldiers from the Emergency Intervention Battalion, and a drone team with six pilots from the Transmission Battalion. For its part, Mexico sent two military planes with about 300 volunteers. Regarding foreign aid, the Minister of the Interior, Carolina Tohá, said that “Spain and Chile, as well as Mexico and Chile, Argentina and Chile, have been brother countries at many times and, in these difficult times, their support is appreciated and reaffirms once again this brotherhood and this relationship that we have cultivated for so long.” During the early morning also arrived in Chile the Ten Tanker, a US aircraft with capacity for 36 thousand liters of water that will increase actions against forest fires in the regions of Ñuble, Biobío and La Araucanía.Meanwhile, the Chilean Government confirmed that it is “managing the aid offered” by Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal and Venezuela.

Original source in Spanish