Tragic Fire in Chile Claims Lives of Many Venezuelan Migrants

Chilean authorities are currently investigating a fire that occurred in a migrant settlement in the city of Coronel, resulting in the death of 14 individuals from Venezuela. Among the deceased were eight children, according to Javier Valencia, the deputy mayor of Coronel. While the cause of the fire remains unknown, officials are considering the possibility that a heating unit may have overheated. The fire destroyed two homes where three families were residing. Mr. Valencia expressed concern about the increasing construction of unauthorized housing, known as "encampments" in Chile, which are prone to forest fires. Coronel, located near the major city of Concepcion in southern Chile, is particularly affected by such fires due to the high temperatures during the southern hemisphere summer. Tens of thousands of Venezuelans are fleeing poverty and violence in their home country to seek a better life in Chile, a prosperous country in South America. Many migrants undertake a perilous journey, including walking from Bolivia or Peru, to reach the border, risking their lives in the process.