Chilean Court Orders Detention in Connection with Devastating Wildfires
A Chilean man has been placed in pretrial detention after a court ruling on Friday, linking him to one of the numerous wildfires ravaging central and southern Chile. These fires have resulted in at least 20 fatalities and widespread devastation.
The individual, aged 39, was apprehended late on Thursday night for his suspected role in the Trinitarias fire, the most significant among approximately fifteen wildfires burning uncontrollably since Sunday. The prosecution claims the fire began due to sparks from a poorly maintained wood-burning stove used by the accused, leading to a disaster that has engulfed the Bio Bio region, approximately 500 kilometers (310 miles) from Santiago.
As investigations continue, the Public Prosecutor’s Office has sought to extend the man’s detention. Their focus remains on uncovering more evidence, including searching for additional victims in Lirquen, a town severely affected by the fires. The Guarantee Court of Concepción in Bio Bio has granted this request as part of an inquiry into what is being treated as an arson case resulting in fatalities.
Prosecutor Jorge Lorca presented evidence during the court hearing, noting that videos from a forestry company contributed to linking the accused to the fire’s inception. “We personally inspected the feasibility and distance of the actions with the Investigative Police, using an institutional helicopter,” Lorca stated to reporters.
The court has mandated that the accused remain in custody until January 26, when formal charges are expected to be announced. The fires, particularly intense in Bio Bio, have decimated several small towns, including Penco and Lirquen, where the tragic events began.
The massive Trinitarias fire was the initial outbreak, later merging with two other fires to form an enormous wall of flames. These blazes have scorched over 45,000 hectares (176 square miles), resulting in at least 21 deaths and 305 injuries. Other regions, including Ñuble and La Araucania, are also battling active megafires.
As of Friday, nearly 700 individuals were seeking refuge in shelters, with more than 2,300 homes destroyed. The scale of destruction far surpasses the infamous Valparaiso and Viña del Mar fire of 2024, which burned over 8,500 hectares (33 square miles) and claimed 131 lives.
For more updates on this developing story and other Latin American news, visit AP’s Latin America coverage.
