In the port city of Valparaiso, Chile, a massive fire started late Saturday. Fueled by strong winds, flames swept across hilly residential areas, destroying more than 2,000 houses and killing at least 12. Firefighters battled the blaze throughout the weekend and are still extinguishing isolated hot spots. Today, some Valparaiso residents are being allowed to return to their homes to assess the damage, recover what they can, and plan their next steps.
Fire Destroys 2,000 Houses in Valparaiso
- Alan Taylor
- April 14, 2014
- 32 Photos
- In Focus
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Read moreEmbers are carried by high winds as a large forest fire reaches urban areas in Valparaiso, Chile, on April 13, 2014. Authorities say the fires destroyed thousands of homes, forced the evacuation of more than 100,000 and claimed the lives of at least 12 people. #
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Read moreSmoke from a fire hovers over Valparaiso city, northwest of Santiago, Chile, on April 12, 2014. #
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Read moreFirefighters try to put out a fire in the hills in Valparaiso city, on April 13, 2014. #
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Read moreResidents throw water on a fire in the hills in Valparaiso city, on April 13, 2014. #
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Read moreDark smoke from afire in the hills of Valparaiso city, on April 12, 2014. #
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Read moreA firefighting helicopter works above Valparaiso, on April 13, 2014. #
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Read moreA fire destroys homes in the city of Valparaiso, on April 13, 2014. #
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Read moreFires rage in the city of Valparaiso on April 12, 2014. #
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Read moreA man walks near an out of control fire in Valparaiso, Chile, on April 13, 2014. #
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Read moreFirefighters work in Valparaiso on April 13, 2014. #
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Read moreResidents flee to safety after a fire flared up in Valparaiso on April 13, 2014. #
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Read moreFire destroys hillside homes in the city of Valparaiso on April 13, 2014. #
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Read moreA resident looks though his window as a fire, reflected in the glass, burns through several neighborhoods in the hills in Valparaiso on April 12, 2014. #
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Read moreFire burns through neighborhoods of Valparaiso city on April 12, 2014. #
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Read moreFirefighters work in Valparaiso on April 13, 2014. #
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Read moreA person tries to extinguish flames as sparks fly during a fire in Valparaiso on April 13, 2014. #
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Read moreResidents remove their belongings as a fire burns through several neighborhoods in the hills in Valparaiso on April 13, 2014. #
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Read moreFirefighters work to put out a fire in Valparaiso on April 13, 2014. #
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Read moreFirefighters work to put out a fire in Valparaiso on April 13, 2014. #
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Read morePeople watch as a forest fire rages towards urban areas in the city of Valparaiso on April 13, 2014. #
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Read moreDestroyed houses in the hills of Valparaiso, after the fire, on April 13, 2014. #
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Read moreA group of people try to salvage items after a large fire in Valparaiso on April 13, 2014. #
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Read moreView of an area ravaged by fire, in Valparaiso, on April 13, 2014. #
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Read moreA helicopter assists after a fire burned several neighbourhoods in the hills of Valparaiso on April 13, 2014. #
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Read moreA volunteer gives a donkey water in an area where a fire swept through, in Valparaiso city, on April 13, 2014. #
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Read moreResidents survey the damage after a fire burned homes in Valparaiso on April 13, 2014. #
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Read moreResidents survey the damage in a Valparaiso neighborhood on April 13, 2014. #
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Read moreA resident carries an injured dog through a burned area of Valparaiso on April 13, 2014. #
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Read moreA burned-out Valparaiso neighborhood, photographed on April 13, 2014. #
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Read moreA resident removes belongings after a fire burned several neighborhoods in the hills of Valparaiso on April 13, 2014. #
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Read moreResidents attempt to salvage belongings from houses in the hills above Valparaiso city, on April 13, 2014. #
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Read moreA man cries next to the remains of his house after a fire destroyed it, in Valparaiso, Chile, on April 13, 2014. #
AP Photo/Luis Hidalgo
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