Chilean authorities are confronting a severe wildfire crisis as multiple blazes rage across the country’s central and southern regions, resulting in significant casualties and widespread displacement. The fires, which ignited on Sunday, have already claimed at least 19 lives and rendered approximately 1,500 residents homeless, according to official reports.
The National Service for the Prevention of Disasters confirmed that five major wildfires remained active as of Monday, with unusually high temperatures from a persistent summer heat wave exacerbating firefighting efforts. In response to the escalating emergency, President Gabriel Boric has declared a state of catastrophe in the heavily affected Biobío and Ñuble regions.
This emergency designation enables enhanced military coordination to combat the spreading flames. President Boric warned via his official X account on Monday that adverse weather conditions continue to pose serious challenges, including the potential for reignition in previously contained areas.
While Chile regularly experiences seasonal wildfires during summer months due to characteristic high temperatures and arid conditions, the current outbreak ranks among the most devastating in recent years. This tragedy follows the catastrophic 2024 wildfire event that claimed 130 lives along Chile’s central coastline, which stood as the nation’s deadliest natural disaster since the 2010 earthquake.