Mass Evacuations in Chile as Fire Destroys Scores of Homes

‘APOCALYPTIC’ FOREST FIRE
MAJOR  DISASTER
MASS EVACUATIONS
CATASTROPHE ZONE DECLARED
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Chile declares Valparaiso a catastrophe zone

UPDATED at 16:00UTC

“Apocalyptic” forest fire raging uncontrollably in Valparaiso

Chilean President has declared the city of Valparaiso, 105km west of the capital Santiago, a catastrophe zone and put the army in charge of the mass evacuations, after a raging forest fire spread into the city, killing at least two dozen people and destroying more than 500 homes.

“Valparaiso is without electricity at the moment and this means the flame column is creating a Dante-esque panorama and is advancing in an apparently uncontrollable manner,” said the city mayor, adding that shelters had been set up for the thousands of residents that have been forced to flee the blaze.

Valparaiso mega blaze continues to grow. Fanned by strong winds from the Pacific ocean, the massive blaze is  moving deeper into the heart of  the city consuming hundreds of buildings, and forcing the government to order mass evacuations, as the the city is declared a catastrophe zone. Photo: Original source unknown,  believed to be from the local media and may be subject to copyright.