During this Friday a forest fire is registered in the commune of Monte Patria, Coquimbo region, which has already consumed five homes in the sector and threatens other inhabited places. The Presidential Delegation declared a red alert for the area until conditions warrant it.
According to information provided by the National Emergency Office (Onemi), the fire called “Rotonda Monte Patria” has consumed five hectares of vegetation. In addition, 6,229 people are without electricity due to the incident.
#ONEMICoquimbo #ONEMIAlert #ForestFires It declares #Alert Red for the commune of Monte Patria due to forest fire https://t.co/NdPb3Mm8zu pic.twitter.com/yvg3KEnUyr
— onemichile (@onemichile) April 8, 2022
“The fire is out of control, which is why we have mobilized all the units of the Monte Patria Fire Department and we have the support of firefighters from Ovalle and Punitaquí, as well as cistern trucks from Ovalle and La Serena. We are trying to stop the spread to the structures of the town” said the commander of the Monte Patria Fire Department, Juan Esteban Almonacid.
The mayor of Monte Patria, Christian Herrera, was also present at the scene and requested air assistance from the authorities. “We are in a very complex situation. The evacuation of some of the houses has begun. We are in direct contact with the presidential delegate, with the governor and we are waiting for reinforcements to arrive soon,” she said.
Two brigades, 1 tanker truck and 2 CONAF planes are working on the site; Firefighters from Punitaqui, Sotaquí, Ovalle, El Palqui, Monte Patria, La Serena, Coquimbo and Combarbalá with 4 cistern trucks; 7 municipal cistern trucks and personnel from the CGE electricity company.
Video via Twitter: @guayacanfmcl
