At least 64 killed as forest fires rage in Chile with death toll expected to rise further

The blazes come as the country is hit by a summer heatwave – authorities however, believe some were started deliberately

Police officers drink water and wash after tackling the fires in Vina del Mar. Photo: Rodrigo Garrido/Reuters

Giovanni Legorano
© Telegraph.co.uk

Thousands of people have fled Chile’s famous Valparaíso wine region amid terrifying wildfires that have so far claimed at least 64 lives and destroyed up to 6,000 homes.

Videos showed apocalyptic scenes of what are believed to be the country’s deadliest forest fires on record, with the sky turning red as cars raced down roads with flames on either side of them, and reports of bodies seen lying by roadsides.