18 Killed as Wildfires Sweep Through Southern Chile, Forcing 50,000 Evacuations

Chilean President Gabriel Boric has declared a state of catastrophe in the southern regions of Ñuble and Biobío after raging wildfires killed at least 18 people and forced more than 50,000 to flee their homes.

According to Chile’s forestry agency CONAF, firefighters were tackling 24 active fires across the country as of Sunday morning, with the largest and most destructive blazes in Ñuble and Biobío, located about 500 km (310 miles) south of the capital, Santiago.

“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,” Boric said in a post on X.

The fires have destroyed nearly 8,500 hectares (21,000 acres) and threatened multiple communities, prompting authorities to order mass evacuations. Officials say high temperatures and strong winds have fueled the fires, making them difficult to control. Much of Chile remains under extreme heat alerts, with temperatures expected to reach 38°C (100°F) from Santiago to Biobío over the weekend.

South-central Chile has faced increasingly severe wildfires in recent years, with climate change blamed for extreme weather, droughts, and floods. In February 2024, simultaneous fires near Viña del Mar, northwest of Santiago, claimed 138 lives, according to the public prosecutor’s office.