Chile Declares State of Catastrophe as Wildfires Claim Lives of at Least 18
Santiago, Chile – Wildfires sweeping across central and southern Chile have killed at least 18 people and forced the evacuation of over 50,000, prompting President Gabriel Boric to declare a state of catastrophe in the Ñuble and Biobío regions on Sunday. The blazes have scorched an estimated 8,500 hectares of forest and destroyed approximately 250 homes, according to disaster officials.
The most dangerous fire is raging near the coastal city of Concepción, about 500km (310 miles) south of the capital, Santiago, according to the BBC. Images from local media showed charred cars in the streets. The death toll is expected to increase, Boric said.
Chile's forestry agency, CONAF, reported that firefighters were battling 24 active fires across the country as of Sunday morning, with the largest concentrated in the Ñuble and Biobío regions, Al Jazeera reported. The Guardian noted that the fires have destroyed scores of homes as the South American country swelters under a heatwave.
"In light of the serious ongoing wildfires, I have decided to declare a state of catastrophe," Boric said, according to Al Jazeera. The declaration allows for increased resource allocation and coordination to combat the fires and assist affected communities.
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