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Chile Wildfires Kill At Least 18 As Heat And Winds Fan Flames
At least 18 people have been killed as wildfires driven by extreme heat and strong winds tore through southern Chile, forcing tens of thousands to flee their homes.
President Gabriel Boric on Sunday declared a state of catastrophe in the regions of Ñuble and Bío Bío, where the blazes have caused widespread destruction. The two regions are about 500 km south of the capital, Santiago.
“In light of the serious ongoing wildfires, I have decided to declare a state of catastrophe in the regions of Ñuble and Biobío. All resources are available,” Boric said in a post on X.
Chile’s CONAF forestry agency said firefighters were battling 24 active fires nationwide as of Sunday morning, with the most severe concentrated in Ñuble and Bío Bío. Boric later confirmed that at least 18 people had died following a meeting with mayors from affected municipalities in the southern city of Concepcion.
Authorities said nearly 8500 hectares have been burned so far, putting several communities at risk and prompting evacuation orders. The Senapred disaster agency said close to 20000 people had been evacuated and at least 250 homes destroyed.
Emergency officials said strong winds and high temperatures have accelerated the spread of the fires, making containment efforts more difficult. Large parts of Chile were under extreme heat alerts, with temperatures expected to reach up to 38 C from Santiago to Bío Bío on Sunday and Monday.
Chile and neighbouring Argentina have both faced intense heat waves since the start of the year. Earlier this month, similar conditions sparked destructive wildfires in Argentina’s Patagonia region.