Wildfires in Chile have claimed at least 19 lives, authorities confirmed on Monday, as the government scrambled to evacuate thousands and combat nearly two dozen active blazes fueled by intense heat and strong winds.
While cooler overnight temperatures helped firefighters gain some control over smaller fires, the largest blazes remain active, with extreme weather expected to worsen conditions throughout the day, Security Minister Luis Cordero said.
“The projection today is of high temperatures,” Cordero said at a news briefing. “Our main concern is that new fires could be triggered across the region.”
Central and southern Chile are under extreme heat warnings, with temperatures forecast to reach 37°C (99°F), complicating firefighting efforts and threatening communities.
Hundreds of Homes Destroyed
Most of the fatalities occurred in Penco, a coastal city north of the regional capital Concepción. On Monday morning, residents sifted through the ashes of their destroyed homes as firefighters continued to battle nearby flames.
Ana Caamaño, 51, returned to the ruins of her family home in Lirquén. Among the charred debris, she found the remains of one of her four dogs, a metal ladle, and a set of burnt rings — remnants of a lifetime of memories.
So far, the fires have ravaged over 20,000 hectares (77 square miles) — roughly the size of Seattle — with the largest blaze alone consuming more than 14,000 hectares on the outskirts of Concepción. Authorities are currently racing to contain the fire threatening Manzano prison near the city and the town of Tome to the north.
The extreme conditions follow heat waves that swept through Chile and Argentina over the New Year. Earlier this month, wildfires in Argentina’s Patagonia burned approximately 15,000 hectares.
Authorities have called for vigilance as firefighting teams continue efforts to protect lives, homes, and critical infrastructure amid record temperatures.
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