Fires in Argentine Patagonia in 2026 Date 11 January 2026 Source YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmNJmjwnWSE&feature=youtu.be – View/save archived versions on archive.org and archive.today Author tfnoticias

16 Feb 2026

Deadly Patagonia wildfires claim over 20 lives and destroy world's oldest trees

Wildfires have scorched vast areas of Patagonia in Argentina and Chile, killing at least 23 people, destroying thousands of homes, and inflicting severe damage on some of the world’s oldest living trees, according to multiple scientific assessments and regional reports.

Researchers from the World Weather Attribution (WWA) consortium found that the hot, dry and windy conditions that allowed the fires to spread explosively across the Andean foothills were made about three times more likely by human‑driven global heating. Rainfall in early summer has dropped by up to 25% in Chile and 20% in Patagonia, creating tinder‑dry landscapes primed for ignition.

The fires erupted in early January, tearing through UNESCO‑listed Los Alerces National Park, home to ancient alerce trees that can live for more than 3,000 years.

Scientists warn that the destruction of these giant carbon‑storing forests could accelerate global warming by releasing vast quantities of stored carbon back into the atmosphere.

In Chile, the regions of Biobío and Ñuble were placed under a “state of catastrophe” as flames driven by temperatures above 37°C and strong winds destroyed more than 1,000 homes and forced 52,000 people to flee.

Experts say the crisis has been worsened by political decisions. In Argentina, deep budget cuts to the National Fire Management Service under President Javier Milei have sharply reduced firefighting capacity, hindering early suppression and prevention efforts.

A separate analysis published by Yale E360, based on the same Guardian‑linked research, confirms that climate change has “loaded the dice,” making extreme fire weather far more likely across Patagonia.

Euronews Green similarly reports that the high‑risk conditions that fueled the blazes in Chile and Argentina were made 150–200% more likely by human‑caused greenhouse gas emissions, underscoring the accelerating danger of climate‑driven fire seasons.

Canada’s National Observer adds that the fires in southern Argentina alone burned more than 45,000 hectares of native forest, forcing mass evacuations and overwhelming local responders.

As the fires continue to burn in several regions, scientists warn that extreme weather events will intensify until fossil‑fuel emissions are sharply reduced. The destruction of ancient forests—some of Earth’s most effective natural carbon sinks—may further accelerate the climate feedback loop driving these disasters.

The ancient giants of Patagonia could be over 5000 years old

Patagonia is home to some of the world's oldest living organisms, specifically the Alerce (Fitzroya cupressoides), also known as the Patagonian Cypress. These ancient giants grow in the temperate rainforests of southern Chile and Argentina and have survived for thousands of years.

The "Great Grandfather" (Alerce Milenario)

The most famous individual is the Gran Abuelo (Great Grandfather), located in Chile's Alerce Costero National Park.

Age: While officially verified at over 3,600 years, recent statistical modeling suggests it may be 5,484 years old. If confirmed, it would surpass California's Methuselah as the oldest known non-clonal tree on Earth.
Size: It features a massive trunk over 4 metres in diameter and stands as a resilient "time capsule" of past climate conditions.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia Creative Commons License

Fires in Argentine Patagonia in 2026

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