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Chile Detains 10 Accused of Starting Deadly Wildfires

  • Death toll from blazes rises to 24 with 26 people hospitalized
  • 800 homes destroyed in catastrophic fires burning in country
A wildfire burns in Puren, Araucania region, Chile, on Feb. 4.

A wildfire burns in Puren, Araucania region, Chile, on Feb. 4.

Photographer: Javier Torres/AFP/Getty Images
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Chilean authorities have detained 10 people accused of causing deadly wildfires, a government official said.

The blazes, fanned by severe heat and dry winds, have led to 24 deaths, and those who started them potentially face harsh consequences, Interior Ministry Undersecretary Manuel Monsalve, said in a press conference Sunday.