A new high-capacity plane to fight forest fires will arrive in Chile. The aircraft managed by a Luksic Group foundation will land on Chilean soil next Saturday, as confirmed by the Minister of the Interior.
The Minister of the Interior, Carolina Tohá, confirmed that a new tanker plane will arrive next Saturday to fight the forest fires that affect the center and south of the country.
It is an aircraft with a smaller capacity than the Ten Tanker, which arrived in our country this Monday and made its first two downloads.
The Secretary of State indicated that the aircraft was managed by the We Support You Foundation linked to the Luksic family.
Tohá delivered the information after presiding over a new meeting of the Disaster Risk Management Committee (Cogrid).
“It has recently been confirmed to us during the meeting, let’s say we were given the precision, that a new intermediate-scale tanker plane would arrive on Saturday, a little smaller than the Ten Tanker that we have working today… that was managed by the We Support You Foundation of the Luksic Group”, explained the minister.
Through a statement The foundation reported that the MD-87 model aircraft has the capacity to load 11,300 liters of retardant and will remain in Chile for a minimum of 28 days.
“The plane is expected to take off from the United States this Thursday and land in the country (Chile) this Saturday, to begin operating immediately in the affected territories,” they said.
In the face of adversity, together we rise up!!! Proud as the Luksic family to be able to support the fight against the fires and join the thousands of people who are helping those who have unfortunately been affected! Let’s go Chile! ???????? https://t.co/FZwaBKww2x
– Luksic Foundation (@Luksic Foundation) February 7, 2023
international supports
In addition, the minister detailed new international support that will allow the arrival of other aircraft and technical personnel to combat the emergency.
“We have confirmed support from Colombia that will consist of an airplane and 33 people from different specialties that will come to reinforce,” he said, adding that some final adjustments are needed for the support of brigade members and planes from Ecuador to materialize, plus other support from countries in the region.
Among other measures, the minister reported that they resolved as a government to restrict the sale of fuel in drums. This, in the service centers located between the regions of Valparaíso and Los Lagos.
Indeed, only those who have a safe-conduct can buy fuel in drums that must be processed before the Chilean Police.
All in order to prevent the spread of forest fires in our country that have consumed thousands of hectares of vegetation and houses, in addition to having caused the death of more than 20 people in a few days.