More than 50 000 people are reportedly forced to flee their homes by two dozen active forest fires in southern Chile, killing at least 18 people, according to authorities.
The 18 deaths were confirmed, according to President Gabriel Boric, “but we are certain that this number will increase.” Additionally, the president placed a new nighttime curfew in the hardest-hit areas.
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In a press conference, security minister Luis Cordero previously confirmed 16 deaths in the Biobio and Nuble regions.
The worst effects of the fires have been felt in the areas of Biobio and Nuble, which are located about 500 kilometers (300 mi) south of Santiago, the capital.
Boric earlier on Sunday declared a state of emergency in both areas, saying “all resources are available” to stop the fires. The armed forces of Chile began pitching in after the declaration.
According to authorities, the majority of the evacuations took place in Biobio’s Penco and Lirquen, which are both cities. Around 60, 000 people live in the cities together.
According to Interior Minister Alvaro Elizalde, challenging weather conditions in the upcoming days, particularly extreme temperatures, are expected to make firefighting efforts more challenging.
He continued, “We have a complicated situation.”
Mass evacuations have been sparked by the fires that have torched Biobio and Nuble, causing them to burn around 85 km (33 mi) wide. To date, at least 250 homes have been destroyed.
In recent years, forest fires have affected South-central Chile, with more than 130 people killed as a result of simultaneous fires in February 2024.
Source: Aljazeera
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