At least 18 people have died in southern Chile as wildfires driven by extreme heat and strong winds ravage the regions of Ñuble and Bío Bío, forcing nearly 20,000 residents to evacuate. The blazes have destroyed at least 250 homes and burned around 8,500 hectares, authorities said.
President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe, mobilizing all resources to combat the fires. Chile’s CONAF forestry agency reported 24 active fires nationwide, with the most severe concentrated in the two southern regions. High temperatures, reaching up to 38°C, and strong winds are intensifying the blazes, complicating containment efforts.
Officials warned of ongoing risks to communities and infrastructure, urging residents to follow evacuation directives. The disaster comes amid a broader heatwave affecting Chile and neighboring Argentina, which recently experienced similar deadly wildfires in Patagonia.
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