On Sunday, 16 deaths were reported in the Nuble and Biobio regions, most affected by the fires. Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of natural disaster in these areas.
How many people died in forest fires in Chile?
What weather conditions favored the fires?
Which regions of Chile recorded the most victims?
What does the president of Chile plan to announce in connection with the fires?
— Today we have a confirmed number of 19 people who have died, but we are sure that this number will increase said on Monday Boric, who visited the city of Concepcion, the capital of the Biobio region, about 500 km south of Santiago.
Boric added that he would declare national mourning as soon as the final death toll is determined.
High temperatures and strong winds contribute to the rapid spread of firePAP/EPA/ADRIAN THOMAS
Heat and strong wind. The fire destroyed hundreds of houses
The fires in Nuble and Biobio broke out on Saturday. The weather conditions favored the spread of the fire: temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius and strong winds. According to authorities, the fire destroyed at least 325 houses in both regions. Over 50,000 people were evacuated. people.
Most of the deaths were confirmed in Lirquen and Penco, small seaside towns on the outskirts of Concepcion. On Monday, thousands of residents searched through the remains of burnt houses while firefighters battled flames raging nearby, Reuters reported.
People are searching the fire sitePAP/EPA/ADRIAN THOMAS
One resident, Franco, said a sudden gust of wind blew a cloud of black smoke into his home, forcing him to run away and leave everything behind. “It came like lightning, so fast,” he emphasized.
In recent years, Chile has been struggling with devastating forest fires. In February 2024, one of the most tragic fires in the history of the country occurred in the tourist region of Valparaiso; 138 people died and thousands of homes were destroyed.
PAP/EPA/PABLO HIDALGO
