Buenos Aires, 4 February 2024 (dpa/MIA) - The death toll from the severe forest fires in Chile has risen to at least 51, according to the country's Interior Minister Carolina Tohá.

Chilean media reported 45 died in the fires, while a further six died later in hospital from serious injuries. Several people were still missing. President Gabriel Boric said the death toll is expected to rise.

The forestry authority registered 143 fires across the country on Saturday, covering an area of some 21,000 hectares.

Tohá said that thousands of houses were also affected by the fires. In the Valparaíso region alone, there were more than 3,000 homes affected.

Boric had declared a state of emergency in the affected areas on Friday due to the disaster in order to mobilize all necessary resources. He instructed the ministry of defence to deploy more military units.

"Our priority is to save lives," Boric said on Saturday.

In summer in the southern hemisphere, severe forest fires have taken place across the country. However, it is suspected that some of the fires were started deliberately.

MIA file photo