Footage shows the destruction caused by the blaze in Valparaiso. Photo: BBC

Thousands of people have been evacuated from the city to escape the flames, which have been fanned by strong winds coming in from the Pacific.

President Michelle Bachelet put the army in charge of the evacuation after declaring the city, 110km (70 miles) west of Santiago, a disaster zone.

Many residents of the city are said to be suffering from smoke inhalation.

Large parts of Valparaiso are without electricity.

The strong winds from the Pacific pushed the fire deeper into the city

It was an apocalyptic scene as the flames covered the city in a bright glow

The city's mayor said the fire was advancing in an "uncontrollable manner"

The number of people confirmed dead is expected to rise, police General Julio Pineda was quoted by the Associated Press as saying.

Volunteer firefighters found the charred remains of two elderly people on a street in the port area, Chilean navy Admiral Julio Leiva said without giving further details.

The city's mayor, Jorge Castro, told Chile's National Television that refuges have been set up for the thousands of residents that have been forced to flee the fire.

"Valparaiso is without electricity at the moment and this means the flame column is creating a Dante-esque panorama and is advancing in an apparently uncontrollable manner," Mr Castro said.

The battle to contain the blaze has been hampered by strong Pacific coast winds that have pushed the fire deeper into the city's neighbourhoods.

"The weather is complicating the situation," emergency official Guillermo de la Mazza told reporters. "The wind is not doing us any favours. The evacuation is our top priority, along with controlling the fire itself."

The port city was swathed in a huge cloud of smoke

This local man stares at the large-scale destruction of buildings

Several hundred homes have been destroyed in the inferno