Chile has declared a state of catastrophe in two southern regions as deadly wildfires intensified, killing at least 16 people, destroying hundreds of homes, and forcing mass evacuations amid extreme heat and strong winds.
The emergency was announced by President Gabriel Boric for the regions of Ñuble and Biobío, located about 500 kilometers south of Santiago, as firefighters struggled to contain multiple fast-moving blazes.
At least 20,000 people have been evacuated from threatened communities, while authorities warned that conditions remained volatile as temperatures continued to climb across much of the country.
Fire officials said a total of 24 active fires were burning nationwide, with the most dangerous concentrated in Ñuble and Biobío.
One major blaze swept through dry forest areas bordering the coastal city of Concepción, leaving charred vehicles in the streets and reducing entire neighborhoods to rubble.
Disaster agencies reported that about 250 homes have been destroyed, while local media estimated that fires have affected up to 20,000 hectares across the two regions.
Evacuations were heavily focused on the cities of Penco and Lirquén, located just north of Concepción and home to a combined population of around 60,000.
Strong winds have repeatedly fanned the flames, complicating aerial and ground firefighting operations and increasing the risk to nearby urban areas.
President Boric said the declaration of catastrophe would unlock expanded emergency powers and resources to confront the crisis.
“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,” he said in a post on X.
Chile’s national disaster and forestry agencies coordinated evacuation orders as heat alerts remained in effect across large parts of the country.
Temperatures were forecast to reach as high as 38 degrees Celsius between Santiago and Biobío, worsening already dangerous conditions.
The latest fires follow a pattern of increasingly severe wildfire seasons in Chile, including a deadly outbreak two years ago near Valparaíso.
The extreme temperatures have not been limited to Chile, with neighboring Argentina also experiencing heat waves and destructive wildfires earlier this year.