Chile blaze death toll at 122 with ‘hundreds of people missing’

Death toll expected to climbChile’s worst natural disaster in yearsPolice are investigating whether fires were started intentionally

Ingrid Crespo walks on the remains of her house in Vina del Mar, Chile yesterday, following the spread of wildfires. Photo: Rodrigo Garrido/Reuters

Alexander Villegas

Helicopters dumped tons of water on wildfires raging across central Chile yesterday, as emergency crews told Reuters they were still finding bodies buried in the wreckage three days after the blazes took hold.

The official death count from Chile’s worst natural disaster in years stood at 122 last night and was expected to climb as residents, firefighters and military raced to clear rubble. Hundreds of people remain missing.