Fatal fires and floods ravage parts of Chile and Peru
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Parts of Chile are engulfed in flames as wildfires rage in central and southern areas.
Chile has survived earthquakes, tsunamis and fires. Let’s give them a hand, they’re suffering the biggest fire ever registered there RT&Give pic.twitter.com/wrh35pEccE
— 5H WorldWide News (@5HWWNews) January 26, 2017
The flames have claimed the lives of at least 11 people, mostly firefighters and police officers.
Hills burn in Vichuquen, Chile, which is battling devastating forest fires – frantic locals beg for help to save homes, animals, farms pic.twitter.com/JO1e0BDXRu
— AFP news agency (@AFP) January 25, 2017
Five individuals have been arrested on suspicion of arson.
The government says the fires are the worst in Chilean history.
Further north in Peru torrential rains have caused fatal flooding.
In the town of Lircay a post-colonial hotel collapsed into the raging Sirca River.
#Huancavelica: Desborde de río Sicra daña alrededor de 50 viviendas es distrito de Lircay https://t.co/aAYcFUwkGOpic.twitter.com/Q5ukCXuMJt
— Agencia Andina (@Agencia_Andina) January 26, 2017
Authorities say four people have been killed by the waters, three trapped in a car that was swept away in the torrent.
Forecasters say the heavy rain looks set to continue putting parts of central and southern Peru at risk of flooding until April.