The fire started on Friday in wooded lands in that area, but due to the persistent drought and strong hot winds it quickly spread to densely populated areas in the communes of Villa Alemana, Quilpué, Limache and Viña del Mar.

Local authorities said that more than 300 inhabitants are reported missing.

The Regional Prosecutor’s Office assured that it is working intensively on the location and removal of the bodies, as well as on the pertinent legal measures to establish the direct cause of death, identification and delivery to their families.

Officials and specialists from Santiago traveled to Valparaíso to reinforce the teams of the Forensic Medical Service.

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