by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
SANTIAGO (Worthy News) – Chilean President Gabriel Boric has declared a state of catastrophe in the country’s central and southern regions after raging wildfires killed at least 18 people, forced mass evacuations, and reportedly destroyed at least one church and hundreds of homes.
The emergency applies to the Biobío Region and neighboring Ñuble Region, about 500 kilometers (300 miles) south of Santiago. Officials said blazes have scorched thousands of acres of forest as the South American nation swelters under an intense heat wave.
The designation allows broader coordination with the military to battle more than two dozen active fires, which have already burned roughly 8,500 hectares (21,000 acres), according to Chile’s national forestry agency. Authorities warned the toll could rise as assessments continue.
Speaking from the hard-hit city of Concepción, Boric offered condolences to victims and said initial figures of 18 dead and 300 homes destroyed were likely to increase, estimating that affected homes in Biobío alone are “certainly more than a thousand.” About 50,000 people have been evacuated so far.
Local officials complained of delays in assistance as flames spread rapidly overnight, while firefighters struggled amid strong winds and temperatures topping 38 Celsius (100 Fahrenheit). Interior Minister Álvaro Elizalde warned that weather conditions remained extreme and unfavorable.
CHAOTIC ESCAPES
Residents described chaotic escapes as fires engulfed neighborhoods, burning cars, a school, and a church, and forcing thousands into makeshift shelters.
Authorities imposed a nighttime curfew in affected areas as recovery and search efforts continued.
Wildfires routinely strike central and southern Chile during the austral summer, often peaking in February amid drought conditions.
In 2024, similar fires killed at least 130 people, the country’s deadliest natural disaster since the 2010 earthquake.
Neighboring Argentina has also been battling major wildfires in recent weeks, particularly in its southern Patagonia region, where hot and dry conditions have consumed thousands of acres of forest, authorities said.
QUESTIONS RAISED
While commentators have said it underscored the wider impact of “extreme weather” across South America, local officials have criticized the perceived slow government response.
In Chile, local officials expressed frustration about the speed and visibility of government support as fires spread.
Some complained that help arrived slowly even as destruction was widespread, highlighting challenges in coordination and response on the ground.
In Argentina Patagonia wildfires, the response by the administration of President Javier Milei has been strongly criticized by environmental groups and unions.
They argue that budget cuts to fire management services, limited aerial support and insufficient resources hampered prevention and firefighting efforts — a situation they say made the fires worse.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Tuesday in a case over whether states can prevent concealed carry holders on private property that is open to the public.
A member of Cities Church said protesters who disrupted a Sunday morning service in St. Paul were seated throughout the congregation before the service began.
A record 388 million Christians faced persecution and were at risk of violence worldwide over the past year—eight million more than in previous periods—according to new findings by Christian charity Open Doors.
Scores of people were reported killed and nearly 200 injured in southern Spain after a high-speed train derailed and collided with an oncoming train, in what Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called “a night of deep pain” for the country.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric has declared a state of catastrophe in the country’s central and southern regions after raging wildfires killed at least 18 people, forced mass evacuations, and reportedly destroyed at least one church and hundreds of homes.
There was mounting concern Monday over the fate of an Egyptian Christian who hosts a channel on the video-sharing platform YouTube, after authorities sentenced him to five years of hard labor for content that rights groups say defended Christianity online.
Europe and the United States, long regarded as close allies, edged toward a trade — and potentially military — confrontation on Monday not seen since the 1930s, after U.S. President Donald J. Trump did not rule out taking control of Greenland by force.