Firefighters battle a blaze in the town of Florida in the Biobio region in south-central Chile. Reuters

The news of the disastrous forest fires which killed 19 precious lives and reduced the residential area to ashes in Via Del Mar, Chile, is so depressing and alarming (“19 dead in Chile forest fires, emergency declared,” Feb.3, Gulf Today website).

“We have preliminary information that several people have died, around 10,” said Sofia Gonzales Cortes, state representative for the central region of Valparaiso. In the towns of Estrella and Navidad, southwest of the capital, the fires have burned nearly 30 homes, and forced evacuations near the surfing resort of PiChilemu.

It’s a challenging time for the Chilean government to not only rescue the trapped people but also to fight the fires. The world should help the Chilean government in the rescue operation to avoid further loss of precious lives.

Climate change is gripping the world slowly and gradually as the world is facing unprecedented forest fires, tsunamis, earthquakes and disastrous flooding. It’s the need of the hour to work together and fight against climate change unitedly for the best interest of present and coming generations.

I would like to offer my condolences to the families who lost their beloved in the Chile forest fires and pray for the victims that their souls may rest in peace.

Usman Qadir,

By email