Canada is sending firefighters and equipment to fight wildfires in Chile

Canada is sending labor and equipment to Chile as the South American country battles devastating wildfires.

In a statement posted on X on Sunday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau thanked Chile for its “invaluable support” as Canada battled wildfires last year, saying it would return the favor in the form of “firefighting experts and wildfire equipment.”

The exact number of people and equipment, or where they might be deployed, was not immediately available.

On February 6, Chilean officials announced that the death toll from forest fires that have been raging in central Chile for several days has reached 131, with more than 300 people still missing.

The Valparaiso fires are said to be Chile's worst disaster since the 2010 earthquake. Officials speculate that some may have been set up on purpose.

Chile's coroner's office said many of the bodies found in the fire were in poor condition and difficult to identify, but forensic experts are taking samples of genetic material from people who report missing relatives.

The fire broke out on February 2 in the mountainous eastern suburbs of Vina del Mar, a beach resort known for its festival that attracts the best of Latin music. Two other towns, Quilpe and Villa Alemana, were badly damaged as the fire spread quickly amid dry weather and strong winds.

Associated Press files were used in this report