Chile death toll rises as firefighters battle deadliest wildfire in recent history: 'It was like being in hell'

At least 122 people have been killed in a spate of wildfires in Chile, the deadliest in the South American nation's history.

The government, which has only identified 32 of the victims, started an official two-day mourning period Monday.

At least 200 people have been reported missing, TV Chile reported. It's the country's worst disaster since an earthquake in 2010 killed more than 500 people. 

In this latest disaster, the fire first broke out in south central Chile last week and then quickly spread to the coastal towns of  Viña del Mar and Valparaiso. At least 165 active fires were reported as of Monday, according to the National Disaster Prevention and Response Service.

Hundreds of families have been left homeless, with at least 15,000 homes destroyed and entire neighborhoods gutted. The Chilean government is now investigating whether the fires were deliberately set. 

Smoke hovers over the Chilean city of Viña del Mar on Sunday as forest fires spread to homes. The wildfires is said to be the worst in the country's history with 122 people confirmed dead as of Monday

Firefighters work on the zone of a forest fire in the hills in Quilpe comune in the Chilean province of Valparaiso on Saturday

Vina del Mar resident Jesica Barrios is among 40,000 people who have been displaced from their homes.

'From one moment to the next, the fire reached the botanical park. In 10 minutes, the fire was already on us,' she said. 'There was smoke, the sky turned black, everything was dark. The wind felt like a hurricane. It was like being in hell.'

While authorities have attributed the wildfires to high temperatures and strong winds, National Defense chief Daniel Muñoz told ADN Radio on Monday that the preliminary reports indicate the fires may have been deliberately set.

'There are indications that at the origins of these mega fires, there are patterns of behavior that there was planning, something orchestrated and organized,' he said.

'There have been reports of fires started by unknown persons, but we have found nothing. However, the PDI and the Public Ministry are investigating these cases.'

Two people were arrested for allegedly setting fire to the Viña del Mar Botanical Garden, where four people died.

However, both suspects were released from jail under orders of the Attorney General's Office because authorities were lacking evidence to keep them in custody.

Residents inspect their homes in Villa Independencia, a town in the Chilean province of Valparaiso, that was ravaged by fires that spread from forest wildfires late last week. The death toll rose to 122 people on Monday 

Stray dogs roam the grounds of a home that was destroyed by forest fires that spread to Quilpue, Chile

A couple hug amid the rubble where their devastated home once stood following wildfires in Chile that have killed 122

Locals take a break as they clean the rubble of burnt-out houses after forest fires reached their neighborhood in Vina del Mar, Chile, on Sunday

President Gabriel Boric met with the National Security Council to go over a plan to dispatch the military to critical zones.

'I am one of those who believe that this body serves to address national security issues. And I am convinced that we can draw good conclusions,' Senate President Juan Colomo said. 'We hope to close in a good way and, together, achieve that calm returns to our country.'

'I believe that there has rarely been a clearer moment where national security is at risk,' Colomo added. 'We are talking about crime, organized crime, drug trafficking.'

 A curfew was imposed Sunday to the hardest-hit regions and the military has been sent in to help firefighters stop the spread, according to Deputy Interior Minister Manuel Monsalve.

Monsalve said slightly lower temperatures and cloud cover could help authorities put out the fires in coming days.