0
0
Deadly Wildfires in Chile Kill 15, Force Tens of Thousands to Evacuate
Wildfires raging in southern Chile have claimed at least 15 lives and forced more than 50,000 people to evacuate, authorities reported on Sunday.
Security Minister Luis Cordero confirmed that 14 major fires have been burning for two days across the Nuble and Biobio regions, about 300 miles south of Santiago.
In response to the crisis, President Gabriel Boric declared a state of emergency, mobilizing nearly 4,000 firefighters and the armed forces to tackle the flames. Gusting winds and temperatures expected to reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit are complicating efforts.
“We face a complicated situation,” Interior Minister Alvaro Elizalde said.
Evacuations and Human Impact
Most evacuations occurred in the Biobio towns of Penco and Lirquen, which together host around 60,000 residents. Matias Cid, a 25-year-old student from Penco, described fleeing flames that consumed homes within minutes:
“We had to leave with the shirts on our back. If we had stayed another 20 minutes we would have burned to death,” he told AFP.
Penco accounted for all but one of the reported fatalities. In Lirquen, many residents sought safety by rushing to the beach as fires devastated homes and infrastructure. Resident Alejandro Arredondo described the destruction: “There is nothing left standing.”
Wildfires Across Chile
According to Chile’s forestry agency, CONAF, more than 20 wildfires are currently being battled nationwide. The agency warned citizens to avoid traveling through areas where emergency teams are operating.
High temperatures and strong winds are expected to continue, presenting further challenges to containment efforts.
Wildfires have increasingly threatened south-central Chile in recent years. In February 2024, simultaneous fires near Vina del Mar killed 138 people and affected 16,000 others, highlighting the region’s vulnerability to extreme fire events.
