Raging forest fires tear up Chile

  • 29/01/2017

Flames from more than 100 raging wildfires have spread from Chile's mountains to its Pacific Coast.

The fires have destroyed forests, livestock and are threatening entire towns and even cities.

More than 9000 firefighters from a number of regions have been battling the intense blazes, including residents who are frantically trying to save their homes and stay alive.

"We are fighting the fire without pause and without precedent," Chile's President Michelle Bachelet said on Saturday (local time).

Almost 480,000 hectares has been destroyed in the fires and 35 people have been arrested in relation to the blazes.

The death toll from the fires has risen to 11.

Both the US and Russia have sent supertanker planes to dump fire retardant and water on the blazes.

Newshub.