٠٠:٠٢:٢٩Local volunteers and firefighters were seen beating back flames near the town of Incahuasi, as wildfires raged in northern Peru's Lambayeque region on Sunday.
Footage shows people hitting the blaze with tree branches and shovelling soil in a bid to bring the fire under control.
Incahuasi Mayor Jesus Vilcabana said a woman from the town was killed while helping volunteers tackle the blaze. She was rushed to hospital with severe burns and had since succumbed to her injuries.
"It fills me with sadness and I ask the corresponding authorities and bodies to support us and to control the fire once and for all and not harm more forest areas, more human lives," the mayor said.
Vilcabana added that he had called on the government to send firefighting planes and other essential supplies to extinguish the blaze, which he said had been burning for the past four days.
"We need them, but they have only confirmed that the planes will come. We still don't see any of them here," he said. "The fire is growing with strong wind, and we hope that once the planes and helicopters arrive, they will be able to control the fire."
At least 16 people have reportedly been treated for smoke inhalation as the fires continue. Authorities have warned the flames are likely to spread in the coming days due to high temperatures, a lack of rain and decreasing humidity.
Fire fightback! Volunteers beat flames with tree branches as deadly forest blazes rage in northern Peru
Local volunteers and firefighters were seen beating back flames near the town of Incahuasi, as wildfires raged in northern Peru's Lambayeque region on Sunday.
Footage shows people hitting the blaze with tree branches and shovelling soil in a bid to bring the fire under control.
Incahuasi Mayor Jesus Vilcabana said a woman from the town was killed while helping volunteers tackle the blaze. She was rushed to hospital with severe burns and had since succumbed to her injuries.
"It fills me with sadness and I ask the corresponding authorities and bodies to support us and to control the fire once and for all and not harm more forest areas, more human lives," the mayor said.
Vilcabana added that he had called on the government to send firefighting planes and other essential supplies to extinguish the blaze, which he said had been burning for the past four days.
"We need them, but they have only confirmed that the planes will come. We still don't see any of them here," he said. "The fire is growing with strong wind, and we hope that once the planes and helicopters arrive, they will be able to control the fire."
At least 16 people have reportedly been treated for smoke inhalation as the fires continue. Authorities have warned the flames are likely to spread in the coming days due to high temperatures, a lack of rain and decreasing humidity.
Local volunteers and firefighters were seen beating back flames near the town of Incahuasi, as wildfires raged in northern Peru's Lambayeque region on Sunday.
Footage shows people hitting the blaze with tree branches and shovelling soil in a bid to bring the fire under control.
Incahuasi Mayor Jesus Vilcabana said a woman from the town was killed while helping volunteers tackle the blaze. She was rushed to hospital with severe burns and had since succumbed to her injuries.
"It fills me with sadness and I ask the corresponding authorities and bodies to support us and to control the fire once and for all and not harm more forest areas, more human lives," the mayor said.
Vilcabana added that he had called on the government to send firefighting planes and other essential supplies to extinguish the blaze, which he said had been burning for the past four days.
"We need them, but they have only confirmed that the planes will come. We still don't see any of them here," he said. "The fire is growing with strong wind, and we hope that once the planes and helicopters arrive, they will be able to control the fire."
At least 16 people have reportedly been treated for smoke inhalation as the fires continue. Authorities have warned the flames are likely to spread in the coming days due to high temperatures, a lack of rain and decreasing humidity.