Chile is facing a devastating wildfire crisis, with at least 19 people confirmed dead and around 1,500 left homeless after blazes erupted across central and southern regions. The government has declared a state of catastrophe as firefighters battle the infernos, which have consumed thousands of acres of land.
State of Emergency Declared
In response to the rapidly escalating disaster, Chilean President Gabriel Boric invoked emergency powers on Sunday. The declaration covers the central Biobio and neighbouring Nuble regions, enabling greater military coordination to combat the flames.
Officials from the National Service for the Prevention of Disasters reported that five major wildfires were still actively burning on Monday. The fires have been fuelled by a severe summer heatwave, bringing unusually high temperatures across the South American nation.
One of the Deadliest Outbreaks in Years
President Boric warned on his X social media account on Monday morning that adverse weather conditions meant some fires could reignite. The current outbreak is described as one of the deadliest in Chile's recent history.
While wildfires are a common seasonal hazard in Chile due to summer heat and dry conditions, the scale of this event is particularly severe. It evokes memories of the 2024 wildfire tragedy, where at least 130 people perished in fires along Chile's central coastline—the nation's deadliest natural disaster since the 2010 earthquake.
Firefighting crews continue their arduous efforts to contain the blazes, facing challenging conditions as the nation grapples with the human and environmental toll of this catastrophe.
