Wildfires kill 19 people in Chile as heatwave fuels rapid spread
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At least 19 people were killed as fast‑moving wildfires swept through central and southern Chile, forcing mass evacuations and destroying hundreds of homes amid extreme heat and high winds.
ABC NewsGo report that firefighters in Chile are battling forest fires that have killed at least 19 people and left around 1,500 homeless
The fires —among the deadliest in recent years—continue to burn across the Biobío and Ñuble regions as authorities warn of more dangerous conditions ahead.
The fires erupted over the weekend and spread with explosive speed, tearing through the coastal towns of Penco and Lirquén, where most of the fatalities occurred. Residents described walls of flame advancing “like lightning,” leaving little time to flee.
According to AlJazeera, the death toll was revised upward to 19 on Monday after Chilean President Gabriel Boric said that the 18 deaths were confirmed, “but we are certain that this number will rise”.
Sky News report much of Chile is under extreme heat alerts, with temperatures expected to reach up to 38C (100F) from Santiago to Bío Bío on Monday.
LeMonde reports nearly 4,000 firefighters battled flames fueled by gusting winds and hot weather in the southern hemisphere summer.
"All resources are available," Boric wrote. The declaration means the armed forces will now get involved.
Mass Evacuations and Widespread Destruction
Security Minister Luis Cordero said thousands of people were evacuated as temperatures climbed toward 37°C (99°F) under a severe heat warning. Firefighters continued to battle 23 active fires, including major incidents in the Biobío and Ñuble regions, where President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe to mobilize military support.
More than 20,000 hectares (77 sq mi) have burned—an area roughly the size of Seattle—with the largest fire exceeding 14,000 hectares near Concepción.
Authorities reported:
- Hundreds of homes destroyed
- 1,100 structures under assessment
- Entire neighborhoods reduced to ash as residents sifted through debris for belongings
According ot PBS.org, Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in the country's central Biobio region and the neighboring Ñuble region, around 500 kilometers (300 miles) south of Santiago, the capital.
Speaking at a press briefing in the devastated city of Concepción in the Biobío region, Boric offered condolences to those affected and cautioned that the early government figures—18 fatalities and 300 homes lost—were likely to increase as authorities gained a clearer picture of the destruction.
He noted that the number of damaged or destroyed homes in Biobío alone was already “certainly more than a thousand, just so far.”
Boric emphasized that “the first priority, as you know, in these emergencies is always to fight and extinguish the fire. But we cannot forget, at any time, that there are human tragedies here, families who are suffering,” adding, “These are difficult times.”
His remarks came after local officials criticized the lack of immediate assistance on Sunday, saying that as flames swept across the hillsides and forced 50,000 people to flee, devastation mounted while support failed to arrive.
Conditions Expected to Worsen
Officials warned that high temperatures and shifting winds could ignite new fires throughout the day. “The projection we have today is of high temperatures,” Cordero said, noting that the risk of additional outbreaks remained high.
Chile and neighbouring Argentina have faced back‑to‑back heatwaves since the start of the year, creating ideal conditions for wildfire ignition and spread.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons License
Forest fire in Pirque Santiago de Chile
Date: 21 January 2017, 02:33
Source: Incendio forestal en Pirque Santiago de Chile
Author: Pablo Trincado from Santiago de Chile, Chile
Further reading:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/chile-wildfires-leave-19-dead-120204462.html?
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/wildfires-in-chile-leave-18-dead-and-force-thousands-to-flee?
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/chile-fights-wildfires-killed-19…