Chile Wildfires Death Toll Reaches 15

Around 5,000 firefighters, police, forest rangers, soldiers, sailors and civil defence workers joined the fight against devastating wildfires circling the Chilean city of Valparaiso.

Helicopters and planes dropped water on the flames and smouldering ruins of some of the city's poor neighborhoods throughout , the third day since flames first erupted in a forest on the outskirts of the city and were then spread by strong winds that scattered embers into slums.

The entire city was under military rule by Tuesday.

Navy officer Julio Leiva said another body had been discovered in the wreckage on Monday, raising the toll to 15. More than 500 people had been treated at hospitals, mostly for smoke inhalation.

An estimated 11,000 people were homeless as the toll of destroyed homes rose to more than 2,500. A contingent of sailors in riot gear stood ready to evacuate another 700 families whose homes could be lost if the winds shifted.

The fires have been so hot they created their own fierce winds, spreading flames that consumed a few entire neighbourhoods of ramshackle houses. Homes stood unscathed in other districts but remained in danger from the embers being whipped through the air.

"We are looking at the largest air operation ever assembled against a fire like this," Michelle Bachelet, the Chilean president, said. She said the blazes had grown to "dimensions never before seen".

Chile's forestry agency predicted it would take three weeks to completely stamp out the fires, AP reported.

Some people left shelters set up by authorities on Monday and made their way home only to discover ruins. Hundreds of young volunteers climbed up the hills to carry bottles of water and shovels to help the victims pick through the wreckage.

"We're going to rebuild right here. Where else would we go?" said Carolina Ovando, 22, who lost the humble home where she had lived with three small children.

Schools have been closed, some of them damaged by fires and others jammed with evacuees.