From the Carriel Sur International Airport, in the Talcahuano commune, President Gabriel Boric took stock of the fires that hit the area and that have left 26 dead and thousands homeless. With the plane called “Ten Tanker” in the background, the President reported the damage caused by the flames and announced the promptest help for the affected families.
“We are not going to leave them alone,” President Boric reiterated. And, along with thanking the international cooperation, on behalf of the Republic of Chile, he presented the aircraft designed for firefighting. Its pilot, Dan, from California, shared with the Head of State, while they filled the plane’s tanks.
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 Air Tanker, is an American wide-body tanker aircraft, measuring about 50 meters, and delivering a full charge of fire retardant in four seconds. Each load is 36,000 liters and takes 10 minutes to load, although Talcahuano firefighters set a record in 2019 after filling a similar tank in four and a half minutes.
The arrival of the aircraft “is, without a doubt, good news”, and complements the work of the firefighters and Conaf brigade members, who are “a national pride”, said Gabriel Boric, along with also highlighting the arrival of other international aid; among them 150 Mexican brigade members and 50 brigade members from Spain.
President Boric appreciated the work of Techo-Chile and the organization Desafío Levantemos Chile, the presidential delegates, regional governors, mayors and “hundreds of neighbors who are voluntarily supporting their communities.”
“This is the way to do it: united, Chilean men and women, we are going to stop this fire and we are going to stand up, as we have always done in difficult times and in times of catastrophe (…) We will get ahead,” Boric sentenced.
Diego Martin/AgenciaUNO
Boric thanks AMLO for sending aid: “Latin American support present!”
President Boric also thanked his Mexican counterpart, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), for sending 150 brigade members to fight the devastating fires that are raging in the center-south of the country and have caused the death of at least 24 people.
“I thank the dear President of Mexico López Obrados for sending 30 brigade members and 120 members of the Mexican Army and Air Force, experts in firefighting, to Chile,” the Chilean president said on his Twitter account.
“International cooperation and Latin American support present!” added Boric, who suspended his vacation last week to attend to the crisis.
The 150 brigade members landed early on Monday in Gran Concepción, one of the areas most affected by the fire.
They were received by the Minister of Public Works, Juan Carlos García; the undersecretary of International Economic Relations, José Miguel Ahumada, and the ambassador of Mexico in Chile, Alicia Bárcena.
The government spokeswoman, Camila Vallejo, said on Sunday that the total Mexican aid is made up of 300 brigade members, so it is expected that another device of 150 experts will arrive in Chile in the next few hours, making the country the largest provider of international aid for this crisis.
In addition to Biobío, 500 kilometers south of Santiago, the most affected regions are Ñuble and La Araucanía, areas of intense agricultural and forestry activity, located 400 and 700 kilometers south of the capital, respectively.
At least 24 people have lost their lives in the virulent fires, which have also left a thousand houses destroyed and more than 200,000 hectares burned.
According to the latest report from the National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (Senapred) of the Chilean Ministry of the Interior, there are currently 261 active fires throughout the country, of which 71 are in combat.
The Chilean government requested international help to put out the flames from countries like Mexico, Argentina, the United States or Spain, whose brigade members (50) arrived in Santiago on Sunday night.
