Chile forest fires: Troops join fight against worst fires in decades

The blazes destroyed more than
100,000 hectares of native forest

Some 1,200 troops and 500 firefighters have joined the effort to control Chile's worst forest fires in decades.

A state of emergency has been declared in a vast area south of the capital, Santiago.

The blazes began over a week ago and spread quickly in the dry and particularly hot summer that many South American countries are experiencing.

President Michelle Bachelet said she had asked for help from countries with experience of forest fires.

"The firefighters are doing all that is humanly possible," she said.

Read the BBC story - “Chile forest fires: Troops join fight against worst fires in decades.”