The Chilean government is blaming Mapuche activists for a series of deadly fires in the Patagonia region.

Seven firefighters died while battling one of the fires, the Associated Press reported. The government said a group called the “Coordinadora Arauco Malleco” was responsible.

“My people also lament these deaths, just as they have destroyed our mother earth!” Mapuche spokeswoman Natividad Llanquileo said on Twitter, the AP reported.

On Sunday, the home of Jose Santos Millao, who is the director of the National Corporation for Indigenous Development, was burned while he was attending a funeral for one of the firefighters.

Get the Story:
Chile blames wildfires that killed 7 firefighters on “terror” campaign by Mapuche Indians (AP 1/6)
Adding fire to fire: disputed properties burn suspiciously as Chile tries to contain wildfires (AP 1/8)