Chile Declares Emergency in Two Regions Amid Devastating Wildfires

Chile's President Boric declared a state of disaster in two southern regions early Sunday morning (January 18) as raging wildfires forced the evacuation of at least 20,000 people and caused the deaths of at least 16 individuals. According to Reuters, the Chilean National Forest Corporation (CONAF) reported that by Sunday morning, firefighters were battling 24 fires nationwide, with the largest ones located in the ￑uble and B￭o B￭o regions. These regions, situated approximately 500 kilometers south of Santiago, have been placed under a state of emergency.

President Boric announced on social media platform X: 'Given the severe and ongoing wildfires, I have decided to declare a state of disaster in ￑uble and B￭o B￭o. All necessary resources have been deployed.'

The Minister of Interior, Carolina del Carmen Toh￡ Cort￩s, informed reporters Sunday morning that 15 deaths had been confirmed in the B￭o B￭o region, adding to the one previously reported in ￑uble, bringing the total death toll to 16.

So far, the fires in these two regions have consumed nearly 8,500 hectares of land, threatening several communities and prompting evacuation orders. Chile's National Disaster Management Bureau (Senapred) stated that nearly 20,000 people have been evacuated, with at least 250 homes destroyed.

Authorities noted that unfavorable conditions such as strong winds and high temperatures have fueled the spread of the wildfires, making it more challenging for firefighters to contain the blazes. A high-temperature alert has been issued for most parts of Chile, with temperatures expected to reach up to 38 degrees Celsius from Santiago to B￭o B￭o on Sunday and Monday (January 19).

Since the beginning of the year, both Chile and Argentina have experienced extreme heatwaves and high temperatures. Earlier this month, devastating wildfires broke out in Argentina's Patagonia region.