Sweeping wildfires sweeps through Chile killing eighteen people
President Gabriel Boric confirmed the fatalities on Sunday, stating, “We have a confirmed number today of 18 deceased persons, but we have the certainty, unfortunately, that this number will increase.”
As of 6 pm local time (2100 GMT), 33 active forest fires continued to burn across the Biobio and Nuble regions. National Forestry Corporation (CONAF) teams, alongside emergency responders, are working to contain the blazes, which remain active in areas including Laja, Ranquil, Florida, Santa Juana, Quillon, and Nacimiento, as stated by authorities.
Due to the severity of the situation, Boric declared a state of catastrophe for the two affected regions at 2:30 am. The measure is intended to streamline containment efforts, logistics, and security operations. Additionally, curfews were imposed in Lirquen from 7 pm until further notice, and in Penco, Nacimiento, and Laja from 8 pm until 6 am Monday.
Official figures confirm that 300 homes were destroyed in Biobio alone, though Boric suggested the total number of lost properties across both regions is likely to exceed 1,000. The president emphasized the importance of prompt compliance with emergency alerts, noting the rapid spread of the Penco-Lirquen fire.
In support, US Ambassador to Chile Brandon Judd stated on social media that assistance to combat the wildfires has been authorized by President Donald Trump, according to reports.
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