Chilean Navy personnel walk past overturned, charred cars as they deploy to help aid the Villa Independencia neighborhood affected by forest fires in Vina del Mar, Chile, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
VI脩A DEL MAR, Chile 鈥� The death toll from wildfires that ravaged central Chile for several days increased to 131 on Tuesday, and more than 300 people were still missing as the blazes appeared to be burning themselves out.
The fires in Valparaiso are said to be Chile鈥檚 deadliest disaster since an earthquake in 2010. Officials have suggested that some could have been intentionally set.
President Gabriel Boric during a visit to the region announced that furniture used for the 2023 Pan American Games will be donated to victims. He said the government also will forgive the water bills for 9,200 affected homes.
READ: Chile firefighters pull bodies from rubble as blaze death toll hits 122
The fires began Friday on the mountainous eastern edge of Vi帽a del Mar, a beach resort known for a festival that attracts the best in Latin music. Two other towns, Quilp茅 and Villa Alemana, also were hit hard as the fires spread quickly in dry weather and strong winds.
The Vi帽a del Mar Festival canceled its opening gala as a sign of mourning. Many participating singers including Alejandro Sanz, Pablo Albor谩n and Man谩 sent messages of solidarity and announced donations.
Chile鈥檚 Forensic Medical Service has said many bodies recovered from the fires were in bad condition and difficult to identify, but forensic workers would take samples of genetic material from people reporting missing relatives.
鈥淢y parents鈥� and my sisters鈥� house burned, and my neighbors 鈥� the people who knew me when I was little 鈥� died,鈥� said Gabriel Leiva, 46, going through debris in Vi帽a del Mar. He said his neighbors were 鈥渇amily that is not of blood but of the heart.鈥�
READ: How climate change contributes to wildfires like Chile鈥檚
The United Nations in a statement offered its condolences and announced assistance. Meanwhile, Boric, in a tweet, thanked U.S. President Joe Biden for 鈥渉is important support鈥� following the disaster.