SANTIAGO, Chile — President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in two southern regions of Chile as fast-moving wildfires killed at least 16 people and forced nearly 20,000 residents to evacuate, authorities said.
Chile’s national forestry agency, CONAF, reported 24 active fires burning across the country, with the largest and most dangerous blazes in the regions of Ñuble and Biobío, about 500 kilometers south of the capital. The emergency designation aims to speed the government’s response as crews contend with shifting winds and extreme heat.
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“In light of the serious ongoing wildfires, I have decided to declare a state of catastrophe in the regions of Ñuble and Biobío. All resources are available,” Boric posted on X.
The fires have already scorched nearly 8,500 hectares (21,000 acres) in the two regions, threatening multiple communities and prompting evacuation orders, officials said. Chile’s disaster agency, Senapred, said almost 20,000 people had been moved to safety and at least 250 homes were destroyed as flames advanced on populated areas.
Authorities said strong winds and high temperatures were driving rapid fire spread and complicating containment efforts. Much of central and southern Chile remained under extreme heat alerts, with temperatures forecast to reach up to 38C from the Santiago metropolitan area through Biobío over the next two days.
Firefighters worked through the day and night to build containment lines around the most volatile fronts while emergency teams positioned equipment and shelters in towns closest to the danger. Officials appealed for residents to follow evacuation orders and avoid routes reserved for response vehicles, warning that conditions could deteriorate quickly with any wind shift.
The declaration of catastrophe underscores the urgency of Chile’s wildfire season, which has intensified amid prolonged heat and drought in parts of South America. Both Chile and neighboring Argentina have faced punishing heat waves since the start of the year, and Argentina’s Patagonia region grappled with its own destructive wildfires earlier this month.
Images shared by local media showed walls of flame advancing through dry brush and smoke plumes blackening skies over rural and suburban zones. Emergency crews doused hotspots around homes and utility corridors while helicopters and ground brigades rotated through the most active sectors, according to CONAF updates.
Officials did not immediately provide details on the identities of the dead or the circumstances of their deaths. The government said damage assessments were ongoing and that support for displaced families would be coordinated as emergency teams gained access to affected neighborhoods.
Chile’s wildfire risk typically climbs during the southern hemisphere summer, when heat, wind and dry vegetation align. With temperatures expected to remain elevated in coming days, authorities warned of continued volatility even as crews gain ground in some areas.
As the response scaled up in Ñuble and Biobío, national agencies urged vigilance across other regions facing high fire danger. The focus, officials said, remains on protecting lives, clearing evacuation routes and stabilizing the largest active fronts while the heat persists.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
