On April 12, a blazing fire sparked in the coastal city of Valparaiso, Chile. The fire started in a forest area of Camino de Polvora and quickly spread to other inhabited areas due to winds from the Pacific.
The natural disaster in the Chilean city left 15 people dead, about 2,900 families without homes, and more than 12,500 hurt or injured.
The fire burned out an area of over 1070 acres. In that space were poor neighborhoods, and areas that were difficult for emergency crews to access, according to Ricardo Toro, Director of the National Emergency Office of the Ministry of Interior of Chile (ONEMI).
President Michelle Bachelet declared Valparaiso a disaster area and labeled it a Constitutional Exception,which led to the collaboration of the armed forces.
Neighbors the Nuns of Mount disagreed with the work of different government institutions in an open letter published in on April 18.
“Close access is essential to our security, but must be accompanied by any necessary and evident measures,” the letter said, referring to the lack of basic assistance to victims in the affected area.
Moreover, the inhabitants of the Nuns stressed the voluntary work of hundreds of students with shovels, rakes and supplies, and mobilized to help the victims.