On Sunday, January 18, Chilean President Gabriel Boric announced that wildfires sweeping the south-central regions have claimed 18 lives—and the toll may climb. 🔥
Speaking in Concepcion, in the Biobio region (about 500 km south of Santiago), Boric told reporters: "Today we have a confirmed number of 18 fatalities, but unfortunately we are certain that this figure will rise." 😿
So far, around 300 homes have been destroyed in Biobio alone, but preliminary estimates warn the final count could exceed 1,000. Authorities imposed curfews starting Saturday evening in Penco, Nacimiento, and Laja, while Lirquen—one of the hardest-hit areas—remains under an indefinite curfew after fires affected about 80 percent of the locality.
The National Forestry Corporation reports 14 active wildfires under red alert nationwide, with more than 24,000 hectares burned. The largest blaze near Concepcion has scorched over 10,600 hectares of forest and land. 🌳
To address the emergency, Boric declared a state of catastrophe in the Nuble and Biobio regions, unlocking extra resources for firefighting and relief efforts. Right now, emergency teams are working around the clock to contain the flames and support affected communities.
We’ll keep you posted as the situation develops. Stay safe, amigos! 💪
Reference(s):
Chile wildfire death toll rises to 18, state of emergency declared
cgtn.com
