- Title: Fires theaten Chilean vineyards
- Date: 25th January 2017
- Summary: CAUQUENES, CHILE (JANUARY 24, 2017) (REUTERS) SMOKE FROM FOREST FIRES DURING SUNRISE FLAMES FROM FIRE NEAR VINEYARDS VARIOUS OF VINEYARDS DAMAGED BY FIRES BURNING TREE SMOKE IN FRONT OF VINEYARDS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) AGRICULTURAL WORKER, JUANA CANALES, SAYING: "The 2010 earthquake was nothing compared to this. We were scared with the earthquake, but with the fire, never something like this." VARIOUS OF BURNT AREAS VARIOUS OF BURNT GRAPES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) WINE PRODUCER, SUSANA MOLINA, SAYING: "The fire passed and burnt all my fields. I have four hectares and they were all burnt, everything except my house." VARIOUS OF BURNT VINES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT OF LOCAL WINEGROWERS ASSOCIATION, FELIPE ZUNIGA, SAYING: "Our evaluation is catastrophic from the point of view that it is not only direct damage to the vineyards that are totally burnt but also the grapes harvest that has been affected, that has not been irrigated. That damage is irreversible." VARIOUS OF VINEYARD AFFECTED (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT OF LOCAL WINEGROWERS ASSOCIATION, FELIPE ZUNIGA, SAYING: "At present we have more than 100 vineyards affected, sizeable properties and hectares." VARIOUS OF AFFECTED VINEYARDS
- Embargoed: 8th February 2017 02:45
- Keywords: fire Chile vineyards Cauquenes
- Location: CAUQUENES, CHILE
- City: CAUQUENES, CHILE
- Country: Chile
- Topics: Disaster/Accidents,Fires
- Reuters ID: LVA00160FYTDV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Over 100 vineyards in Chile's Cauquenes region have been affected by dozens of wildfires spreading across the country, with the country grappling to contain the spread of the blazes that have already consumed over 126,000 hectares.
Many wine producers fear a devastating few years ahead after fires swept through vineyards, burning grapes, their branches and seeds. For some vineyards it will mean no vintage for the year and possibly 2018.
"The 2010 earthquake was nothing compared to this. We were scared with the earthquake, but with the fire, never something like this," said agricultural worker, Juana Canales.
Chile's CONAF forestry service has reported that the fires were cause by humans but have refrained from commenting on whether they were set intentionally.
Susana Molina lost her vineyard in the fire and says all that she is left with is her house on her property.
"The fire passed and burnt all my fields. I have four hectares and they were all burnt, everything except my house," she told Reuters.
President Michelle Bachelet has called the fires the worst the country has ever seen.
With wine contributing some $1.5 billion to national GDP annually, the wine industry is expecting to be hit hard.
"Our evaluation is catastrophic from the point of view that it is not only direct damage to the vineyards that are totally burnt but also the grapes harvest that has been affected, that has not been irrigated. That damage is irreversible," said president of Cauquenes' local winegrowers association, Felipe Zuniga.
At least 100 vineyards have been affected but officials fear that figure could still rise.
"At present we have more than 100 vineyards affected, sizeable properties and hectares," added Zuniga.
The Chilean government has called for international aid to combat the forest fires in the midst of an intense heat wave that has hit the country. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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