Deadly wildfire razes entire town in Chile: 'Literally like Dante's Inferno'

[muriel_volestrangler]

An entire town has been consumed by flames in Chile as unusually hot, dry weather undermined efforts to combat the worst forest fires in the country’s recent history.

More than 1,000 buildings, including schools, nurseries, shops and a post office were destroyed in Santa Olga, the biggest of several communities to be reduced to ashes in the Maule region.

One body was later recovered from the ruins. Two people are missing, but most of the residents were evacuated unharmed. Few will have a home to return to.

Drone images showed entire neighbourhoods reduced to ashes. The roads are still neatly symmetrical, but the buildings in block after block lie in smouldering ruins under a hazy sky.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/26/chile-wildfires-destroy-town-santa-olga

[Judi Lynn]

1. Horrendous fire. They just came through an earthquake, earlier.

More from the article posted:

As well as climate change, tourist negligence and poor park management, the country’s timber and wood pulp industry may come under the spotlight.

Biologists say plantations of non-indigenous forests, such as eucalyptus and pine, help to spread the fires more quickly.

“About 42% of the forest fires are in plantation forests, which are like matchboxes,” said Mary Kalin Arroyo of the University of Chile. “They spread fire to native forests.”

The world is going to have to start making adjustments quickly, considering we are dealing with new, deadly climate proplems which will be increasing.

Didn't know the problems posted by "Plantation forests."

Horrible losses, devastating. Very sad news.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Chile wildfires: Drone footage reveals devastation

Chile wildfires: Drone footage reveals devastation
1 hour ago

video at link -

Drone footage shows the damage in the central region of Maule in Chile caused by devastating wildfires - the worst in the country's modern history.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-38766925