Chile Forest Fire Leaves at Least 16 Dead, 500 Homes Destroyed

A deadly forest fire in the port city of Valparaiso, Chile, has killed at least 16 people, and destroyed 500 homes, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said on Sunday.

More than 10,000 people have been evacuated from the area, according to the Associated Press. The fire ignited Saturday afternoon in a forested area above shacks on one of Valparaiso's hilltops, and grew rapidly after strong winds spread hot ash across the city, the AP reported

This map shows the area surrounding Valparaiso:

Earlier on Sunday, Chilean authorities deployed 400 police offers to Valparaiso to help extinguish the fire. The Chilean police's official Twitter account has been providing regular updates on the situation since Saturday night. Read more...