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Over 293,000 hectares (724,000 acres) have been ravaged by fires
this season, and forecasts for higher temperatures stretching
from Santiago to the southern regions that have been the focal
point of the flames have raised concerns about the 82 active
fires.
Another 174 fires are under control.
High temperatures are forecast through Friday and could rise
above 35 degrees Celsius (95°F) in the central Maule y Ñuble
regions, "creating a very complex situation in terms of
weather," Deputy Interior Minister Manuel Monsalve told
reporters.
Later Tuesday, Monsalve said the government had confirmed 24
people had died from the fires, revising a previously reported
toll of 26 victims.
Monsalve said international fire brigades from Colombia and
Mexico were assisting. He said 17 people had been arrested for
possible links to starting the fires, several of them for
activities such as welding or burning clothing and animal wool.
Air quality in the affected areas has deteriorated significantly
due to the smoke from the fires, said Health Minister Ximena
Aguilera.
Chile's massive pulp and paper company CMPC said in a statement
on Tuesday that over 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres) of its
plantations have been affected by the fires, while operations at
some of its processing plants had been halted.
(Reporting by Ivan Alvarado in Quillon, Chile, and Fabian Andres
Cambero in Santiago; Writing by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by
Anthony Esposito, Rosalba O'Brien and Leslie Adler)
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