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A fast-moving fire tore through a densely populated hillside neighborhood in southern Lima on Saturday afternoon, leaving widespread destruction and hundreds of families suddenly homeless. The blaze erupted in the Pamplona Alta sector of San Juan de Miraflores, an area known for its tightly packed, largely improvised housing, and quickly grew beyond the control of residents who initially tried to contain it themselves.
Thick columns of black smoke rose over the district as flames raced from structure to structure, driven by strong afternoon winds and fueled by highly flammable building materials. By early evening, firefighters confirmed that the fire had been brought under control, but not before devastating a wide swath of the neighborhood. Preliminary estimates from local authorities suggest that at least 300 homes were damaged or destroyed, though the final count is expected to change as assessments continue.
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