Chilean Security Minister Luis Cordero reported on Sunday 15 deaths from the fires in the Biobio region. A day earlier, the government confirmed the death of one person in the Nuble region.
How many people died in the fires in Chile?
What is the reason for the evacuation of residents in Chile?
What conditions make fighting fires in Chile difficult?
What states of disaster have been declared in Chile?
The Chilean Agency for Forests (CONAF) said firefighters were fighting 24 fires across the country. The largest of them are in Nuble and Biobio, approximately 500 km from the capital Santiago. – We are facing a complicated situation – said Alvaro Elizalde, head of Chile's Interior Ministry, quoted by AFP.
President Gabriel Boric announced on Sunday on the X website that a state of natural disaster had been introduced there. “We have directed all resources to the site,” he emphasized.
Fires in Chile. Thousands of people had to leave their homes
Photos from Chile show that fires are burning not only swathes of forest, but also nearby residential buildings.
According to the government agency Senapred responsible for crisis management, 20,000 people died as a result of the fires. people had to leave their homes. AFP, citing Minister Luis Cordero, reported that over 50,000 people had been evacuated from Nuble and Biobio. people.
Fire in ChileAA/ABACA / PAP
“We had to go out in what we were wearing. If we had stayed another 20 minutes, we would have burned alive, says Matias Cid, a 25-year-old resident of Penco, in an interview with the agency.
As a result of the fires, the following were damaged: the small port town of Lirquen. — Many people saved themselves by running to the beach. “There is nothing left,” described 57-year-old resident Alejandro Arredondo.
Fires in Chile. Wind and heat make fighting the fire difficult
The authorities point out that the fight against the element is made difficult by strong winds and very high temperatures, reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius.
In February 2024, several fires broke out simultaneously near the city of Vina del Mar, northwest of Santiago, killing 138 people. In total, approximately 16,000 people were injured. inhabitants.
