“What pains us the most is that there are several children among the dead,” German news agency (dpa) quoted Boris Chamorro, the mayor of the Pacific harbor town of Coronel, as telling the TV station CNN Chile, Bernama reported.
At least six minors died in the devastating fire, which affected two houses in the Los Pirquenes housing estate. According to reports, the deceased were living in overcrowded conditions.
The Chilean news website Cooperativa said the victims were believed to be from three Venezuelan families, according to initial reports. Preliminary investigations indicate that a cooker was likely responsible for the blaze.
Such fires in often illegally built housing settlements occur frequently in Chile. In early 2022, at least 100 houses were destroyed in a major fire in the north of the country. More than 400 people were left homeless at the time.
MNA/PR
