Chile fights wildfires that killed 19 and forced massive evacuations
SANTIAGO, Chile — Firefighters in Chile are currently fighting forest fires that have tragically claimed the lives of at least 19 individuals and forced 50,000 residents to evacuate their homes. The fires have spread across thousands of acres in the central and southern regions of the country.
As of Monday, fifteen wildfires are still active following the outbreak on Sunday, as reported by the National Service for the Prevention of Disasters. These wildfires have caused significant destruction to homes, vehicles, infrastructure, and forests.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in the Biobio and Ñuble regions on Sunday. This designation enables better coordination with the military to combat the wildfires effectively.
President Boric stated that the wildfires have ravaged an area of at least 30,000 hectares, which is approximately five times the size of Manhattan Island.
“Controlling fires of this magnitude, especially under adverse weather conditions like high temperatures, strong winds, and low humidity, is an incredibly challenging task,” Boric emphasized during a press conference on Monday.
The president expressed gratitude to countries such as Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil for sending firefighters and resources to assist Chile in this crisis.
Officials in Chile have confirmed that 325 homes have been destroyed by the wildfires, with an additional 1,140 homes sustaining damage.
Authorities are currently investigating the causes of the recent wildfires. President Boric mentioned on Monday that in almost all cases, wildfires in Chile are a result of human activities.
Due to high temperatures and dry conditions, wildfires are a common occurrence in Chile during the summer months. The ongoing wildfires in central and southern Chile represent one of the deadliest incidents in recent years.
In 2024, a series of devastating fires along Chile’s central coastline claimed the lives of over 130 individuals, marking one of the nation’s deadliest natural disasters since the 2010 earthquake.
