Chile declares state of catastrophe following deadly wildfires
The President of Chile, Gabriel Boric, has declared a state of catastrophe in two regions after deadly wildfires have killed over a dozen people. More than 50,000 have been evacuated from the Ñuble and Biobío regions, 300 miles south of Santiago, the capital city.
Boric said that the death toll is expected to increase. The most dangerous fires burned through dry forests that border the coastal city Concepción, destroying around 250 homes, according disaster officials. Images of charred cars in the streets were published by local media.
Firefighters were battling 24 fires across the South American country, according to Conaf, the forestry agency of Chile. The most dangerous, it said, were those in Ñuble and Biobío where 8,500 hectares (21,000 acres) have been burnt through so far.
“In light of the serious ongoing wildfires, I have decided to declare a state of catastrophe” in the regions, Boric posted on X. All resources are available.”
A state of catastrophe allows the armed forces of Chile to be deployed to help. Most evacuations were in two cities, Penco and Lirquen, north of Concepción. Combined, their population is 60,000.
Winds fanned the flames, with high summer temperatures adding to the problem, not only putting communities in more danger, but making the job of firefighters even more difficult.
Many Chilean regions are under heat alerts, expecting temperatures to reach 38C between Santiago and Biobío over the coming days.
Stay tuned to EyeOnLondon for the latest news and expert opinions.
Follow us on:
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest videos and updates!
We value your thoughts! Share your feedback and help us make EyeOnLondon even better!
