Chile has declared a state of catastrophe in two southern regions after raging wildfires killed at least 18 people and forced tens of thousands from their homes. President Gabriel Boric announced the emergency measure for the Ñuble and Biobío regions, located about 500 kilometres south of Santiago, warning that the death toll is likely to rise.
More than 50,000 residents have been evacuated as fires tear through dry forests and residential areas, with the most severe blaze hitting communities near the coastal city of Concepción. Disaster officials say around 250 homes have been destroyed, while local media images show streets littered with burned-out vehicles.
Chile’s forestry agency, Conaf, reported that firefighters were battling 24 active fires nationwide on Sunday, with the most dangerous concentrated in Ñuble and Biobío. So far, the fires have scorched about 8,500 hectares of land. “In light of the serious ongoing wildfires, I have decided to declare a state of catastrophe” in the two regions, Boric said on X, adding that “All resources are available.”
The declaration allows the deployment of Chile’s armed forces to assist emergency operations. Most evacuations took place in the cities of Penco and Lirquen, north of Concepción, which together are home to about 60,000 people. Strong winds and extreme summer heat have fuelled the flames, complicating firefighting efforts, as heat alerts remain in place across much of the country, with temperatures expected to hit 38C.
Chile has faced increasingly destructive wildfire seasons in recent years, a trend linked to prolonged drought conditions. Just two years ago, similar forest fires claimed at least 120 lives in the Valparaíso region near the capital.
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