S. Korea to provide $500,000 in humanitarian aid to Chile over massive wildfires

South Korea will provide $500,000 worth of humanitarian assistance to Chile to help people struggling with devastating wildfires, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday.

More than 120 people have been killed and hundreds of others remained missing as the wildfires have razed thousands of homes in Chile's Valparaiso region since earlier this month, according to foreign media reports.

The South Korean government voiced hope that the aid would help with the South American nation's recovery efforts and a swift return to everyday lives for residents in the affected areas.

Chilean President Gabriel Boric said the blaze was "the worst catastrophe to hit the country" since the 2020 earthquake, in which more than 500 people died, and declared a state of emergency, the reports said.