Chileans search for victims of forest fire

Only 35 victims have been identified and hundreds remain missing from the fires that broke out late last week and then spread to large areas of central Chile.

In Valparaiso, a coastal city near the areas hardest hit by the fires, a coroner's office has been set up with tents and staffed with psychological support staff and DNA testing for those searching for family members.

But with many of the bodies found badly burned and hundreds of DNA samples to process, the identification process took longer.

“They took my DNA from my two sons, but they didn’t say how long it would take,” said Carlos Orellana, 67, one of the first to arrive Tuesday to search for missing relatives.

Mr. Orellana is searching for his 14-year-old daughter, Anastasia Elizabeth, who disappeared after Friday’s fire. Later Tuesday, Orellana and his family will search the rubble for the missing girl.

Thousands of families like his are doing the same after the worst natural disaster to hit the South American country since a 2010 earthquake and tsunami killed more than 500 people.

“A lot of people are still in a state of uncertainty, they don’t know what happened,” said Pamela Gonzalez, a psychologist for the government health agency who is helping families at the coroner’s office in Valparaiso.

Gonzalez, who has done similar work in previous wildfires, said many people are dealing with post-traumatic stress after this disaster. She said the most important thing families need right now is respite and community support.

President Gabriel Boric visited the region on Tuesday and announced a series of measures to help families, including suspending payments for some services, donating housing supplies and improving medical leave.

Bui Huy (according to Reuters)