43 Suspects Detained for Stoking Chile Wildfires

Authorities have detained 43 people suspected of stoking some of the deadly Chilean forest fires that have killed 11 people and destroyed large swaths of land, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said on Sunday.

"For nearly two weeks, fires have raged across seven regions in south and central Chile, devastating more than 400,000 hectares (988,000 acres)," Bachelet said in her latest update on the tragedy, AFP reported.

She added that 43 people had been detained "for their possible responsibility in the forest fires".

Most of the suspects were apprehended in the hardest-hit regions of O'Higgins, Maule and Biobio. They could face a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

Of the 130 active forest fires, 50 are under control while 66 others are still being battled, officials said.

The Chilean government is distributing aid to those affected by the blaze, most of whom are farmers and ranchers whose homes, animals and land has been destroyed.

More than 11,000 people are working to extinguish the fires, including members of the military, police, public officials and residents.

Of these, more than a half have come from abroad to help with what Chile has called the largest emergency operation in its history. Fires are common in Chile's parched forests during the southern hemisphere's summer. Most are caused by human activity. More than 35 people have been arrested and accused of playing a role in starting or spreading the fires.

Fire activity this year was worse than usual because of a drought attributed by environmentalists to climate change.

Fire brigade chiefs said poor preparation for climate change and large monoculture plantations have contributed to Chile’s worst forest fires in recent history, as the human, economic and environmental effects continued to grow, The Guardian reported. Entire communities have been razed to the ground. Chile’s capital, Santiago–which is several hundred miles away—is shrouded in haze. Firefighters are trying to prevent the flames from reaching Constitucion, a town of 46,000 people.