This past Monday, a fire broke out in a Chinese mall located in the center of Puerto Varas, Los Lagos Region, affecting three commercial premises. Initially, the Prosecutor’s Office reported that four people were missing, but after controlling the incident, the lifeless bodies were found.
Initially, four people were reported missing. After the fire was controlled, emergency teams located three lifeless people inside the premises in the center of Puerto Varas, Los Lagos Region. Later, the number was raised to four, according to information from the Prosecutor’s Office.
“So far, there are three people whose bodies have been found, and the body of the last person has yet to be located”, declared prosecutor Lorena Meza. Although the identities of the victims have not yet been revealed, three of the four have been found, and DNA tests are pending.
The local prosecutor’s office of Puerto Varas confirms the discovery of 3 deceased people inside a commercial premises affected by a fire this morning in the center of Puerto Varas. A fourth person remains missing. Details Prosecutor Lorena Meza. News in development… pic.twitter.com/7UKPffdpnI
— Los Lagos Regional Prosecutor’s Office (@FiscaliaRegionX) February 12, 2024
The victims correspond to three people of Chinese nationality and one Bolivian. According to preliminary information, these people they could have been in a cellar on the second floor, where the flames are believed to have started. The prosecutor indicated that the possibility of the intervention of third parties is being investigated and confirmation of the causes of the accident is awaited.
After various procedures, the Puerto Varas Prosecutor’s Office confirms the discovery of a fourth deceased person inside a commercial premises affected by a fire this morning in the center of Puerto Varas. Origin of the accident is under investigation. @FiscaliaRegionX @CarabLosLagos pic.twitter.com/bBnI9djo9w
— Los Lagos Regional Prosecutor’s Office (@FiscaliaRegionX) February 12, 2024
The mayor of Puerto Varas, Tomás Gárate, called for examining the heat load in buildings to prevent the rapid spread of fires. “Look at the caloric load in the buildings and thus prevent fires from spreading in a much more accelerated manner like this one,” said the mayor.
After the tragedy, he highlighted the importance of considering the type of content of buildings and suggested reviewing the location of different types of businesses in the city center
“The type of content of the buildings is fundamental, because As municipalities we cannot regulate the type of commerce that is carried out“But it does seem fundamental to me, as a result of the fires that have been seen throughout the country, that we can effectively see that there are different types of commerce and not all of them can be in the center of the city,” he explained.
Local authorities work with specialized teams to clarify the circumstances of the incident and determine its origin.