20,000 Evacuated Amid Wildfires in Chile

Chile has declared a state of natural disaster in two southern regions after rapidly spreading wildfires forced the evacuation of around 20,000 people, authorities said on Sunday, highlighting the growing impact of extreme weather across the country.

President Gabriel Boric announced the emergency measures as forest rangers and firefighters battled at least 19 active wildfires nationwide. Twelve of the blazes are concentrated in the regions of Ñuble and Biobío, located about 500 kilometers south of the capital, Santiago.

Local television footage showed flames reaching populated areas, particularly in the towns of Penco and Lirquén, prompting large-scale precautionary evacuations. Authorities have not yet released confirmed figures on casualties or the number of homes damaged.

Alicia Cebrián, head of Chile’s National Disaster Prevention and Response Service, said the situation in Penco and Lirquén remained the most dangerous, noting that the two towns had seen the widest evacuation operations so far.

Emergency crews continue efforts to contain the fires, with dry conditions and strong winds complicating response operations. The declaration of a state of disaster allows the government to mobilize additional resources and accelerate coordination between national and regional authorities.