One of Chile's most iconic cities is experiencing a devastating fire. Valparaiso has not experienced a fire of this magnitude in decades, and firefighters continue to battle the blaze on the city's hilltops.

Perched on various hills on Chile's Pacific Coast, Valparaiso is the second most important city in Chile and is an emblem of Chilean culture. According to the AP, the fire began Saturday afternoon in a wooded area at the top of the hills surrounding the city. From there the fire spread into impoverished sections of the city, spreading quickly due to high winds. Many of the houses in that area are built out of wood and other flammable materials; this fueled the fire even more.

"It's a tremendous tragedy. This could be the worst fire in the city's history," said Chilean President Michelle Bachelet. "The people of Valparaiso have courage, have strength and they aren't alone."

In her statement, President Bachelet warned that the death toll and damage would rise once the fire is under control or put out. Currently, it is reported that 11 people have died, and 500 have suffered various injuries. More than 10,000 people were evacuated from their homes after Bachelet declared a state of emergency. This included 200 female inmates who were moved to a sports stadium.

An estimated 1,250 firefighters, police and forest rangers have been deployed to combat the fire and rescue survivors. The Chilean Navy has deployed 2,000 sailors to prevent looting and other crimes that may ensue due to the chaos.

"This is the worst catastrophe I've seen," said Ricardo Bravo, the regional governor. "Now we have to make sure the fire doesn't reach the city center, which would make this emergency much more serious."

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