Provisional detention ordered for suspects in deadly fire in Chile

“There was direct malice in the origin of the fire and, at least, possible malice in the death,” magistrate Jeanette Oliva said in her decision.

Several fires broke out simultaneously on February 2 around the coastal town of Vina del Mar, located 110 kilometers northwest of Santiago, the Chilean capital.

The inferno, the world's second deadliest this century, was fueled by winds and a heatwave that recorded temperatures of around 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

The materials used to start the fire were found in the home of one of the suspects, authorities said. Investigators were also looking into potential links to other arsons.

jac/tmt/ib/nro/acb