Death toll rises to 13 in ongoing Chile protests

News Service
12:1622/10/2019, Tuesday
U: 22/10/2019, Tuesday
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A riot police water cannon sprays water towards demonstrators during a protest
A riot police water cannon sprays water towards demonstrators during a protest

Gov't extends state of emergency from country's north to south

The death toll in Chile rose to 13 amid violent demonstrations against a metro price hike, Spanish news agency EFE reported late Monday.

Most of the deaths were caused during Sunday’s looting when shops set on fire.

The Chilean government declared a 15-day state of emergency on Saturday, extending it later from north to south.

In addition to the Metropolitan Region, home to some 7 million people, emergency was also extended in Valparaiso, Concepcion, Rancagua, Coquimbo and La Serena, and Antofagasta.

"We are at war against a powerful enemy, one willing to use violence without bounds," Sebastian Pinera, Chile's president, said in a live Twitter broadcast late Sunday.

Stressing that it is not the time for ambiguity, Pinera called on Chileans to unite against violence and delinquency.

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