Hundreds still missing in Chile's deadly wildfires
STORY: Wildfires in Chile have left at least a hundred and thirty people dead in recent days.
Survivors are left dealing with grief for lost family members while trying to salvage what little is left.
Marcela Bassaez received a donated mattress which she has laid out inside the only surviving part of her house -- a chicken coop.
"This is how I ended up. This is what is left of all of my sacrifice. I’m hoping to receive some help to rebuild something so I can have somewhere to sleep tonight. Some kids from Santiago left me that mattress."
On top of mourning their losses, survivors have had to stay alert because of subsequent looting.
Irma Dominguez is currently keeping watch.
“This is my son’s house. My son is currently at the hospital because he had injuries caused when he tried to rescue his father from the flames. Sadly, he wasn’t able to. His father died in the house back there. It’s all terrible, it’s unexplainable. We’ve got no help, nothing. That’s the worst part: no one helped us, fire brigades didn’t come, we had nothing. It was a terrible disaster.”
Thousands of families are still looking for loved ones with only a few bodies identified and hundreds still missing.
The wildfires were the worst natural disaster to strike the South American nation since a 2010 earthquake and tsunami that left more than 500 dead.
Its speed and deadliness were unprecedented.
Scientists say hotter temperatures have been brought on by climate change and the El Nino phenomenon.
And that as climate change worsens, extreme weather will become more frequent and severe.
President Gabriel Boric visited the stricken area on Tuesday and announced a series of measures to help families including suspending payments for utilities, donations of housing supplies and improved medical leave.
