State of catastrophe declared in Ñuble and Bio Bio regions as over 35,000 hectares burn; officials warn extreme temperatures could spark more blazes.
SANTIAGO – Wildfires raging across central and southern Chile have killed at least 19 people and destroyed hundreds of homes, prompting mass evacuations and a government-declared state of catastrophe as an intense heatwave fuels the crisis.
Authorities confirmed on Monday that firefighters are battling 34 active blazes, with the most severe concentrated in the Ñuble and Bio Bio regions. So far, the fires have scorched more than 35,000 hectares—an area comparable to the city of Philadelphia.
Security Minister Luis Cordero warned that persistently high temperatures, expected to reach 37°C (99°F) in some areas, could trigger new fires throughout the day. “The projection we have today is of high temperatures,” Cordero said in a briefing, noting that while overnight weather helped contain some fronts, the largest fires remain uncontrolled.
Homes Reduced to Ashes
The coastal city of Penco, near Concepción, reported the majority of fatalities. In nearby Lirquen, residents returned to find their neighborhoods in ruins.
Ana Caamano, 51, sifted through the ashes of her family home, recovering only charred rings and a metal ladle from a lifetime of memories. “They’re not that important,” she said. “But they’re memories.” Her son Franco described fleeing as a “black cloud of smoke” engulfed their property. “It came like lightning; it was so quick,” he said.
Preliminary reports indicate 325 homes have been completely destroyed, with assessments ongoing for over 1,100 additional properties.
A “Monster” Fueled by Climate Conditions
Experts attribute the severity of the fires to a dangerous combination of prolonged drought, abundant dry vegetation, and consecutive days of extreme heat—a rarity for the region.
“There have been several consecutive days over 30 degrees Celsius, and for the Concepción area, that’s rare,” said Miguel Castillo, a professor at the University of Chile’s Forest Fire Laboratory. “With those extreme conditions, it practically becomes an uncontrollable monster.”
Strong, shifting winds have further complicated firefighting efforts, raising concerns that separate blazes could merge into larger, uncontrollable fronts.
Regional Heatwave Crisis
The disaster extends beyond Chile, with Argentina’s Patagonia also battling wildfires that burned 15,000 hectares earlier this month. Both countries have endured a relentless heatwave since the start of the year, underscoring the growing climate-related threats across South America.
President Gabriel Boric has declared a state of catastrophe in the hardest-hit regions, mobilizing national resources to support firefighting and relief efforts as thousands of displaced residents seek shelter and aid.
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