Chile Wildfires Kill 16 and Force Wide Evacuation
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- At least 16 people have died as wildfires ravage Southern Chile, particularly in the Biobío region, destroying homes and forcing the evacuation of over 20,000 residents.
- Chile’s president declared a “state of catastrophe” for the Ñuble and Biobío regions, enabling military deployment to combat fires that have burned over 8,000 hectares.
- The wildfires are being fueled by a severe heat wave with temperatures reaching 38°C (100°F) and strong winds up to 55 mph, complicating firefighting efforts.
- Chile faces a severe wildfire season, with nearly as many fires already recorded this year as last summer, despite a $180 million government budget allocated for fire prevention and control.
