Wildfires sweeping across central and southern Chile have killed at least 18 people, destroyed hundreds of homes and burned thousands of hectares of land, as the country endures an intense heatwave, authorities said.
President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in the central Biobío region and the neighbouring Ñuble region, around 500 kilometres south of the capital, Santiago. The move allows the government to increase coordination with the military to contain the fast-spreading fires.
Chile’s security minister, Luis Cordero, said around two dozen wildfires have scorched roughly 8,500 hectares so far, forcing about 50,000 people to evacuate. Emergency crews continue to battle the blazes as strong winds and extreme temperatures complicate firefighting efforts.
However, local officials accused the central government of responding too slowly. In the coastal town of Penco, Mayor Rodrigo Vera said communities were left without support for hours as flames tore through residential areas.
From the bottom of my heart, I have been here for four hours while a community is burning and there is no government presence,” Vera said, addressing the president directly. He criticised what he described as a lack of immediate action despite repeated calls for help.
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