Chile fire: 16 dead in Valparaiso

A forest fire has killed at least 16 people and destroyed hundreds of homes in Chile's port city Valparaiso. Thousands of people have also been evacuated to escape the flames, which were fanned by strong winds. President Michelle Bachelet put the army in charge of the evacuation after declaring the city, 110km (70 miles) west of the Chilean capital, Santiago, a disaster zone. A regional official said it was the "worst catastrophe" he had ever seen. "We fear that the fire will spread to the centre of the city, which would increase the severity of the emergency," regional governor Ricardo Bravo, a life-long resident of Valparaiso, said. The old centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, packed with old buildings that are vulnerable to fire. Difficult job Strong Pacific coast winds have pushed the fire deeper into the neighbourhoods of Valparaiso, hampering the battle to contain the blaze. The city is also built on a series of steep hills, separated by narrow winding streets, making the job of firefighters all the more difficult, says the BBC's Gideon Long in Santiago. Large parts of Valparaiso are without electricity, and residents were said to be suffering from smoke inhalation. The battle to contain the fire has been hampered by strong winds from the Pacific Some residents returned to discover that their homes had been destroyed Refuges have been set up to house residents who were forced to flee It was an apocalyptic scene as the flames covered the city in a bright glow President Bachelet is in the city to oversee an emergency committee's response. "The people of Valparaiso have courage, have strength and they aren't alone," she said during a tour of the worst-hit areas. "Families have not only lost their homes and their possessions but also their family memories." She added she feared the number of people killed by the fire could rise. Refuges have been set up to house residents who were forced to flee. The fire started on Saturday, and most of the damage was done overnight. 'Hell' Those residents who managed to return to their homes discovered that they had been destroyed. "It's all burned down. My sister's house also burnt to the ground," Rosa Guzman told the Reuters news agency. Another resident said the blaze felt as if "hell encircled my family". "The fire raced down the hills and destroyed everything in its path," Miguel Ramirez told the AFP news agency. This is the second emergency that President Bachelet has had to face in the first month of her second term in office, after an 8.2 earthquake hit northern Chile on 1 April. Fires are frequent in central Chile, where summer sends temperatures soaring. Hundreds of homes were destroyed, and thousands of people have been evacuated The fire began on Saturday, with most of the damage done overnight. Are you in Valparaiso? Have you been affected by the fire? You can send your experiences to latestarticlesbyiykemandela@gmail.com using the subject Head "Valparaiso Fire & Me". To Air your View to the World. We will Publish it after reviewing it... Follow @LaNUBlog & @Hon_KingSIMEO on Twitter for Updates