Chile Wildfires Claim 18 Lives, State of Emergency Declared

Severe wildfires have spread across southern Chile, with authorities reporting at least 24 active forest fires. So far, 18 people have died, and more than 50,000 residents have been forced to evacuate their homes to safer areas.

President Gabriel Boric confirmed on Sunday that the death toll could rise further. Night curfews have been imposed in the hardest-hit regions of Biobío and Ñuble, where a state of emergency has also been declared. All available resources, including the armed forces, are being deployed to control the fires.

Authorities reported that around 85 square kilometers have been burned in Biobío and Ñuble, destroying at least 250 homes. Interior Minister Álvaro Elizalde warned that adverse weather conditions in the coming days, especially extreme heat, could make firefighting efforts more difficult.

In recent years, southern and central Chile have repeatedly faced devastating wildfires. In February 2024, similar fires claimed over 130 lives, which President Boric described as the country’s worst national tragedy since the 2010 earthquake.