Chile farmers fight wildfire 'catastrophe'
Litueche : Chile's president ordered extra funds Tuesday to be spent on fighting the country's worst forest fires ever, as frantic locals called for help to save their homes, animals and farmland.
Flames have destroyed 155,000 hectares (600 square miles) of land in the center of the country and at least 4,000 people have been evacuated, the National Emergency Office said.
"This is worse than an earthquake," said Juan Carlos Donoso, a middle-aged man who lives in a rural area near the town of Litueche.
"We are very scared because we are farmers -- we have animals, fields and houses that have been burned."
He and other local people were using spades and machinery to help firefighters clear the ground to stop the fire from spreading.
Nearby, farm animals that had survived the blaze wandered around looking for unspoiled pasture.
"This is the biggest catastrophe we have ever seen," said Paulo Morales, 29.
"We need more help from the government. They must send helicopters because that is the only way to put the fires out."
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