Chile wildfires kill 18, displace nearly 20,000

At least 18 people have died in devastating wildfires in southern Chile, prompting the evacuation of nearly 20,000 residents to safer areas, reports BBC.

President Gabriel Boric has declared a state of catastrophe in the Ñuble and Biobío regions as the fires continue to spread.

In a post on X on Sunday, President Boric confirmed the death toll and assured that all necessary resources and support have been mobilised to tackle the crisis.

Chile’s National Forestry Corporation reported that as of Sunday morning, 24 active fires were burning across the country. The most severe blazes are concentrated in Ñuble and Biobío, approximately 500 kilometers south of Santiago, where emergency measures remain in effect.

Authorities say at least 250 homes have been completely destroyed, and around 8,500 hectares of land in the two regions have been scorched. Strong winds and high temperatures are fueling the rapid spread of the fires, complicating firefighting efforts. Temperatures across the affected area could reach 38°C, officials warned.

Chile’s disaster management agency, ONEMI, highlighted the unprecedented heatwave sweeping Chile and neighbouring Argentina since the start of the year, which has contributed to the scale of the wildfires. Patagonia in Argentina has also experienced severe fires, causing widespread destruction.

The government has urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain vigilant as firefighting operations continue.