Chile receives international aid to fight against the flames

(CNN, KYMA/KECY) – Wildfires in Chile have burned a large area of ​​Luxembourg.

The fire turned deadly, killing at least twenty people and injuring more than 2,500.

The drought combined with extremely hot weather has made firefighting difficult.

Now international crews have joined the fight; both on the ground and in the air.

Fire extinguishing

With the help of a heavy hitter, a DC 10 tanker plane sent by the US dropped tens of thousands of liters of water on a forest fire in Chile.

It is part of an international effort to put out the raging fire that has spread across the southern and central parts of the country, burning more than 300,000 hectares of land.

Air operations support a force of approximately 6,000 firefighters on the ground; Many of them are volunteers, as well as hundreds of emergency workers from around the world.

Despite all human efforts, the hot temperature combined with the dry forest land creates tinderbok conditions.

Death and emotional loss

One man says he was spraying his property with a hose when the fire quickly engulfed him.

He says he took refuge in a clay oven for an hour so that his family could save him.

“I came in with a saw; the dog and chicken were inside. I threw myself face down on the floor, said farmer Pedro Aroca.

At least twenty people were killed, more than 1,200 houses were destroyed, and many residents are living in tents or shelters.

More than 2,000 people have been injured and there is a health alert due to the smoke.

Then there’s the emotional toll.

“My daughters tell me not to worry, it will all work out, but it hurts because it was years of sacrifice,” said Maria, the store’s owner.

Government arrests and detentions

Soldiers began patrolling the streets at night and imposed a midnight to 5 a.m. curfew in many of the affected areas.

The government says this is to prevent theft and robbery.

Chile has so far arrested more than two dozen people who may be related to the fire.