Students in Chile have been filmed breaking out of their school gates to join protests that have rocked the south American country for three weeks.

Demonstrators have been taking to the streets to demand better social services and a more equal distribution of wealth.

In footage posted on Twitter, hundreds of secondary school students can be seen pushing against the metal gates at the Bajo Molle school in the northern city of Iquique.

The lock on the gate eventually gives and the students run out on to the streets to join the protests.

It comes as footage emerged of protesters throwing Molotov cocktails at police after they used tear gas canisters and water cannon in the capital Santiago.

Police officer set on fire in Chile protests

Two police officers were engulfed in flames and their colleagues used fire extinguishers and their hands to put out the fires.

One of the officers can be seen grimacing in pain as the flames licked around her face.

Police said the two women, Maria Jose Hernandez Torres, 25, and Abigail Catalina Aburto Cardenas, 20, are in serious condition in hospital.

Chile’s interior minister, Gonzalo Blumen, denounced the attack as “pure violence” when he visited the women in hospital on Monday evening.

He said it had “nothing to do with the legitimate demands of citizens”.

“It was a violent, cowardly aggression against two police officers who were working to protect the safety of our compatriots.”

Around 800 police officers have been injured in the demonstrations, along with 1,650 protesters who have been hospitalised, according to human rights groups.

Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Show all 45 1 /45 Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue A member of the security forces shoots tear gas canisters at protesters. Protests against Chilean President Sebastian Pinera's government were triggered months ago after Pinera proposed changes to the country's pension system REUTERS Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Demonstrators clash with security forces REUTERS Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Demonstrators protest in Plaza Italia in Santiago EPA Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue A riot police water truck is hit by a molotov bomb REUTERS Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue A demonstrator throws stones REUTERS Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue A demonstrator blows fire from his mouth as he clashes with riot police REUTERS Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue A demonstrator kicks back a tear gas canister REUTERS Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Riot police are reached by a petrol bomb AFP via Getty Images Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue A demonstrator uses a tennis racket to throw a tear gas canister back at riot police AFP via Getty Images Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue SANTIAGO, CHILE - JANUARY 17: A Chilean riot police officer throws a gas pump against demonstrators during a protest against President SebastiÃ¡n PiÃ±era at Plaza Italia on January 17, 2020 in Santiago, Chile. Protests and social unrest arose on October 18 after a subway fare increase which developed in a social movement demanding improvements in basic services, fair prices and benefits including pensions, public health and education. (Photo by Marcelo Hernandez/Getty Images) Marcelo Hernandez Getty Images Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Demonstrators are sprayed by riot police with a water cannon REUTERS Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue An anti-government demonstrator covers his mouth and nose during a protest with a sticker on his head that reads in Spanish: "Dignity," AP Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue A demonstrator next to a burning barricade REUTERS Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue A demonstrator with a placard that reads "United until the Victory" REUTERS Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Demonstrators clash with riot police during a protest in Santiago AFP via Getty Images Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Demonstrators clash with security forces REUTERS Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue A police water cannon sprays water over anti-government demonstrators AP Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue A demonstrator throws a tear gas canister back at riot police AFP via Getty Images Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue A demonstrator gestures near a burning vehicle REUTERS Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Matias Orellana, who lost his right eye due to impact from a tear gas canister shot by security forces, waves to demonstrators gathered to support him outside a hospital REUTERS Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Demonstrators take part in a protest against Chile's government in Valparaiso, Chile December 30, 2019. REUTERS/Rodrigo Garrido RODRIGO GARRIDO REUTERS Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Riot police officer shots a tear gas canister Getty Images Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Thousands of Chileans protest against the government of President Sebastian Pinera Getty Images Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue A demonstrator throws items at an armoured vehicle REUTERS Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Demonstrators point green laser lights at police during protests in Santiago, Chile Getty Images Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Demonstrators point green laser lights to riot police during a protest Getty Images Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Demonstrators point green laser lights at riot police officers Getty Images Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Demonstrators use laser beams during an anti-goverment protest in Santiago, Chile on 12 November. REUTERS Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Observers compared the use of lasers to futuristic warfare or a dance club party AFP via Getty Images Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Anti-government protesters clash with riot police in Renaca on Chile's coast AFP/Getty Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Demonstrators burn piles of furniture during a protest against Chile's government in Vina del Mar, on the country's northern coast Reuters Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Demonstrators clash with riot police during a protest on 12 October AFP/Getty Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue A demonstrator is arrested by Chilean riot police during a protest in downtown Santiago on 12 October AFP/Getty Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue A demonstrator waves a Chilean flag as he is fired upon by water cannons during clashes with riot police during anti-government protests in Concepcion on 4 November Reuters Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Demonstrators throw stones during a protest against Chile's government in Concepcion, near the country's coast on 7 November Reuters Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue A woman walks with her children amid anti-government protests in Concepcion, on Chile's coast on 7 November Reuters Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Demonstrators clash with riot police during a protest in downtown Santiago on 12 October AFP/Getty Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Subway services in Santiago were suspended after activists jumped turnstiles, dodged fares and vandalised stations AFP/Getty Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Demonstrators run away from tear gas during clashes with riot police at the Bellas Artes metro station AFP/Getty Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue School and university students joined a mass fare-dodging protest in Santiago's metro AFP/Getty Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue A riot police throws a tear gas canister to demonstrators during clashes AFP/Getty Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Riot police stand next to a burning barricade following a mass fare-dodging protest in downtown Santiago AFP/Getty Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Chile's President Sebastian Pinera declared a state of emergency in October AFP/Getty Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue A protester kicks back a tear gas canister during clashes with riot polic AFP/Getty Riots flare across Chile as anti-government protests continue Demonstrators clash with riot police following a mass fare-dodging protest AFP/Getty

The latest protests came after a short break in demonstrations in which 20 people died in clashes amid looting and arson forcing the cancellation of two upcoming major international summits.

The relocation of the COP25 Climate Change Conference from Santiago in Chile to Madrid, Spain, left teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg stranded in the US.

Ms Thunberg sent out an appeal on social media for help crossing the Atlantic to mainland Europe in order to attend the conference.