A state of emergency has been declared by Chilean authorities because of a raging forest fire.

Thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes.

The active fire is currently threatening the port cities of Valparaiso and Vina del Mar.

According to BBC, the interior ministry announced about 4,500 people had been evacuated so far and that another 10,000 might need to be moved to safety.

According to officials, the fire, which was quickly fanned by strong winds, started at an illegal garbage dump on Friday afternoon.

Chile's Emergency Office estimated by late Friday that about 740 acres had been affected by the fire.

All through the night emergency crews fought to keep the flames from reaching the residential districts in Valparaiso.

The interior minister said three firefighters have been injured while battling the flames, and a 67-year-old woman has died of cardio-respiratory causes.

The Independent reported at least 10 people have been confirmed injured by early this morning.

Last year in April the country of Chile suffered its most devastating urban fire to date in the very same region.

A raging fire that began as a forest fire leaped from hilltop to hilltop in Valparaiso.

More than 15 people were killed, and more than 500 were injured. The fire, in the end, destroyed more than 2,900 homes.

The places in Valparaiso that were hit with the most damage were the poorest areas, including many sites that were often made up of little more than wooden huts.

Entire neighborhoods in Valparaiso were razed and many of the people who died were found in the burned-down homes that they had refused to evacuate.

Valparaiso, faced with new dangers and devastation, is still recovering from last year’s damage.