Chile wildfires: Recovery efforts continue nine months on
Nine months after a devastating wildfire swept through central Chile, the road to recovery continues in the coastal city of Viña del Mar. Peace Boat Disaster Relief (PBV) has been working alongside the Valparaiso Nikkei Corporation to provide aid to those affected, focusing on housing repairs and the restoration of the public botanical garden in Viña del Mar.
On November 1st, PBV staff visited the Viña del Mar National Botanical Garden and its surrounding areas to assess the progress of recovery efforts. Within the garden, charred Chilean palms and fallen trees were evident. However, the cultural and manga library “Aya,” managed by the Nikkei Association, miraculously escaped the flames, and the manga books sent as relief items remained unharmed.
Of the 45 cherry trees donated in 2011, many were believed to have been destroyed, but flowers were seen blooming on some branches. Newly planted cherry saplings are expected to form a cherry blossom path in the future.
Additionally, nearby local residential areas were affected by spreading fires from the garden, forcing evacuations as embers carried by strong winds quickly ignited homes. PBV has supported in repairing damaged houses too. While securing permanent housing remains a challenge for local residents, the provision of temporary accommodation has brought some relief. PBV has successfully completed this phase of its relief project.