The impressive images of the fires that devastate central-southern Chile

The deadliest wave of fires in recent history Pepper It has already claimed the lives of at least 112 people.

Forest fires in the departments of Valparaíso, O’Higgins and Araucanía spread throughout urban areas, engulfing entire neighborhoods.

LOOK: 3 things you might not have known about Nayib Bukele’s life (and how he transformed his image as a media personality and controversial president of El Salvador)

Between 3,000 and 6,000 homes were burned by the fires, some of which were intentional, according to authorities, and which were worsened by the drought suffered by the region.

The president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, declared a state of emergency and it is feared that the number of victims will be much higher, as hundreds of people have been reported missing.

Vehicles and houses burned in the commune of El Olivar, in Viña del Mar. (AFP/GETTY).

El Olivar, in Viña del Mar, was one of the areas affected by the fires. (EPA-EFE).

A woman tries to put out a fire in the commune of Quilpe, in Valparaíso. (AFP/GETTY).

Some 1,400 firefighters were mobilized this Sunday in the area, according to the Ministry of the Interior, which is being assisted by military personnel and thousands of volunteers.

Many of those affected by the fire visited the coastal region on summer holidays.

This is the biggest emergency in Chile since the 2010 earthquake, which left 432 dead and 2 million homeless.

Neighbors tried to put out the fires with what they had at hand, like these volunteers from Viña del Mar. (REUTERS).

Helicopters worked tirelessly on suppression efforts. (EPA/EFE).

Carabineros drink water and cool off in Viña del Mar. (REUTERS).

The Chilean government asked people not to travel to affected areas and a curfew was declared in several communities to allow rescue teams to carry out their work more effectively and safely.

Firefighters rescue some rabbits in the commune of Quilpe, in Valparaíso. (AFP/GETTY).

The fire hit urban areas like this one in Viña del Mar. (REUTERS).

There are many people left with almost nothing, like in this neighborhood of Los Olivos, in Viña del Mar. (AFP/GETTY).

Boric announced that the priorities at this time are to save lives, put out active fires, recover bodies of deceased people, channel urgent support to victims in shelters, guarantee public order with the police and the Armed Forces and collect basic information to investigate the origin of the fires., as published on his account X.,

A thick cloud of smoke covered cities like Viña del Mar. (REUTERS).

The fire hit entire neighborhoods, like this one in Viña del Mar. (REUTERS).

An affected house in Villa Independencia, in Villa del Mar. (EPA/EFE).

Many domestic animals were also affected by the fire, like this cat from El Salto, in Viña del Mar. (EPA/EFE).

Forest fires, like the one in this area of ​​El Patagual, near Viña del Mar, ended up spreading to urban areas. (EPA/EFE).

Source: Elcomercio