Fire in Chilean city destroys over 100 homes on Christmas Eve

A violent forest fire on Christmas Eve affects more than a hundred homes on a hill in the Chilean city of Valparaiso, some 120 km west of Santiago.

According to Press TV, firefighters said inhabitants fled their homes in the middle of Christmas Eve festivities, some losing all their belongings and even pets. The blaze, fed by high Southern Hemisphere summer temperatures and strong winds, started in a forested area and spread to the city.

Valparaiso, known for its colorful wood-frame houses, is popular among tourists in the South American country.

ME