These are some of the challenges of reconstruction.
New houses.
The hills of Viña del Mar, the epicenter of the tragedy, are overpopulated. For decades, thousands of people lived in wooden houses that burned down within minutes.
The firefighters were unable to reach several points due to a lack of roads or their machines got stuck in the narrow driveways, on the banks of which rows of charred vehicles remained.
For Miguel Castillo from the University’s Faculty of Forestry chiliRebuilding these neighborhoods is “irresponsible.”
“From now on, people will be sentenced to death again, at a time that only nature will know,” says the scientist.
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But given the lack of alternatives to resettle thousands of families, it would be necessary to at least build houses made of concrete or cement and legalize the settlements in order to be able to offer them services.
In addition – adds the expert – build firebreaks and keep the bushes clean.
“About 5,000 affected houses” were irregular settlements, says Manuel Díaz, director of construction at the University of Las Américas in Viña del Mar.
Many poor neighbors do not have the financial means to obtain materials or go elsewhere.
According to a study by the specialist website Portal Inmobiliario, Viña del Mar is the sixth largest city in Latin America with the most expensive real estate at $2,699 per square meter.
Measures against intentional fires.
According to the National Forestry Corporation (CONAF), 99.7% of fires are caused intentionally or by negligence.
Multiple simultaneous outbreaks occurred during the emergency, increasing suspicions that criminal hands may have been involved. According to official figures, the number of intentional fires has increased by 23% in the last 20 years.
“People from the fire department, people from Conaf and the governor have pointed out that there is history that allows us to suspect premeditation,” commented Chilean President Gabriel Boric.
Although the law punishes intentional fire starters with up to 20 years, they are rarely caught in the act.
For Professor Castillo it is necessary to increase the penalties for accidents. “If there are episodes with clear intentions, all the prevention work is in vain,” he says.
Congress should also resume discussion on the bill banning the development of real estate projects in burned areas, experts say. This initiative was presented four years ago but has not made any progress since the beginning of 2023.
This could “prevent companies from using fires as an opportunity to expand their operations,” Professor Díaz told AFP.
Against climate change.
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According to scientists, in this part of the American territory, the natural and cyclical phenomenon El Niño has become more intense and frequent due to global warming caused by human activities.
El Niño increases the temperature in the Pacific Ocean, causing droughts or floods.
The strong winds multiplied fire outbreaks in the Chilean state of emergency.
In view of climate change, experts agree that there is nothing that can be done about the temperatures or the strong winds.
“It is important to control what can burn, create firebreaks, clean up, pull weeds and take out the trash, because these are the main sources of possible fires,” says Díaz.
Castillo adds that authorities have already acknowledged the challenges posed by climate change, but that the key to avoiding a new tragedy of this magnitude lies in avoiding overpopulation.
“There is no more space in the 23 hills of Viña del Mar, (…) the fires are not that big, the problem is the high population density,” warns the expert.
According to the government, 38,079 houses were missing in the Valparaíso region even before the fire, the second highest number in the country.
According to the official balance, another 15,000 houses were affected after the fire.
SPRING: AFP