At least 18 people have been killed and tens of thousands forced to flee their homes as devastating wildfires continue to rage across central and southern Chile. President Gabriel Boric on Sunday declared a state of catastrophe in the Biobío and Ñuble regions, as authorities warned that the death toll and damage are likely to rise.
Fires spread amid extreme heat
The wildfires, fuelled by soaring temperatures and strong winds, have swept across vast areas of forest and residential zones. According to Chile’s National Disaster Prevention and Response Service Senapred, more than 30,000 people have already been evacuated from the worst-hit regions.
Senapred chief Alicia Cebrián told state broadcaster TVN that at least 19 separate fires were active, with authorities prioritising containment and the protection of lives over damage assessment.
Thousands of homes damaged
Chile’s national forestry agency said the fires have already burned through around 8,500 hectares of land. President Boric, speaking from the hard-hit city of Concepción, said initial reports confirmed 18 deaths and at least 300 homes destroyed, though the real number of damaged houses is expected to exceed 1,000 in Biobío alone.
Reuters reported that as many as 50,000 people may have been displaced as flames advanced rapidly through hillsides and towns.
State of catastrophe declared
The catastrophe declaration in Biobío and neighbouring Ñuble — about 500 km south of Santiago — allows for closer coordination with the military and emergency services to combat more than two dozen active blazes.
“These are very difficult times for the country,” Boric said, offering condolences to families who lost loved ones. “Unfortunately, we are certain that this figure will increase.”
Anger over delayed response
Local leaders voiced frustration over what they described as delayed government response. Rodrigo Vera said entire communities burned for hours without adequate assistance, as firefighters struggled in temperatures exceeding 38°C.
With extreme weather conditions expected to continue, emergency crews remain on high alert as Chile battles one of its most destructive wildfire crises in recent years.