At Least 19 Victims from Fires Sweeping Southern Chile

SadaNews -  The death toll from the fires that have swept large areas in southern Chile has risen to at least 19, according to Chilean authorities, while President Gabriel Boric issued a decree imposing a nighttime curfew in the most affected areas, amid warnings of worsening conditions.

Interior Minister Luis Cordero stated that the total number of victims has reached 19 people, indicating that 18 of them died in the Biobío region, while one death was recorded in the Ñuble region. President Boric had previously announced that 18 people had been killed, warning of a potential increase in the toll.

Cordero explained that more than 50,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes, while authorities reported the destruction of at least 300 houses so far, with official expectations that the actual number of destroyed homes will exceed one thousand.

The fires erupted on Saturday in the Ñuble and Biobío provinces, located about 500 kilometers south of the capital Santiago, under an intense heatwave and strong winds that contributed to the rapid spread of the flames.

Authorities have imposed a nighttime curfew in several affected areas of the Biobío region, particularly in the towns of Lircay and Penco, where the president described the situation as "extremely serious." Correspondents from Agence France-Presse reported that the flames completely engulfed dozens of homes in the two towns.

The mayor of Penco, Rodrigo Vera, stated that 14 people lost their lives in his town alone, while scenes of destruction overtook the neighboring coastal town of Lircay.

Eyewitnesses reported that the flames spread within minutes, preventing the salvage of properties, forcing dozens of residents to flee towards the beach to escape the fire.

Esteban Krauss, director of the National Forest Corporation (CONAF) in Biobío, noted that the weather conditions are "extremely difficult," and the fires are "completely out of control," with expectations for temperatures to exceed 30 degrees Celsius, accompanied by strong winds.

Interior Minister Álvaro Elizalde described the situation as "complicated," warning that the coming hours could see additional worsening due to the adverse weather conditions.

Authorities have mobilized around 3,700 firefighters, while President Boric declared a state of natural disaster, allowing for the deployment of military forces to assist in firefighting and relief efforts.

These fires come amid a notable increase in wildfires in Chile in recent years, particularly in the central and southern regions, where the country experienced one of its worst disasters in February 2024, when extensive fires claimed the lives of 138 people near the city of Viña del Mar.