More than 6,200 hectares destroyed by fire in south of the country

SANTIAGO.- According to the National Forest Corporation (CONAF), 6,200 hectares of vegetation have already been burned so far by the fires currently raging in the southern part of the country, in the Bío Bío, Maule and La Araucanía regions.  The organization has already begun legal proceedings against whoever is found to be responsible for the blazes.

The latest balance reported by CONAF refers to the destruction of an area of close to 1,200 hectares, which includes native forests, while the Province of Concepción remains on red alert and Bío Bio, Ñuble and Arauco continue on yellow alert.

In the Región del Maule, more than four thousand hectares of plantations have been destroyed by forest fires, with the majority of the blazes being set intentionally.  Most efforts have been focused on fighting the flames affecting the Las Trancas-La Unión area in Molina.

Meanwhile, in La Araucanía, more than one thousand hectares of vegetation have already been destroyed by the fire, with one of the largest fire centers having begun on the outskirts of the Temucuicui community in Ercilla.