At least 23 die as dozens of wildfires torch forests in Chile

Santiago — Dozens of wildfires blazing though Chile caused the government to extend an emergency order to another region on Saturday as a scorching summer heatwave complicates efforts to control fires that have claimed at least 23 lives so far.

More than 1,100 people have sought refuge in shelters while at least 979 people have been reported injured by the raging fires, according to an official briefing later on Saturday.

The latest emergency order covers the southern region of Araucania, next to the previously declared Biobio and Nuble regions, located near the middle of the South American country’s long Pacific coastline.

“Weather conditions have made it very difficult to put out [the fires] that are spreading and the emergency is getting worse,” interior minister Carolina Toha told reporters in the capital, Santiago.

“We need to reverse that curve,” she added, noting that on Friday 76 more fires had ignited.

Another 16 fires sparked to life on Saturday, according to officials, as local temperatures in the southern hemisphere summer exceeded 40°C.

The sparsely populated three regions covered by the emergency orders are home to many farms, including where grapes, apples and berries are grown for export, plus extensive tracts of forest land.

Officials told reporters on Saturday that the governments of Spain, the US, Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil and Venezuela have offered help, including planes and firefighters.

On Friday an emergency-support helicopter in La Araucania crashed, killing its pilot and a mechanic, according to officials.

Authorities reported that 11 of the victims, or nearly half of the casualties reported so far, died in the town of Santa Juana in Biobio, 500km south of Santiago.

Since late last week helicopters have dropped fire retardant over raging fires as billowing clouds of smoke obstruct roadways. Firefighters and local residents alike are struggling to contain the flames against the backdrop of a hazy orange-tinted sky.

The orders allow for the deployment of soldiers and additional resources to deal with the natural disaster.

About 40,000ha, an area larger than the US city of Philadelphia, have been burnt by the fires, according to official data released late on Friday.

National forestry agency Conaf reported on Saturday that 80 of 231 total wildfires are being actively battled, while 151 were under control.

Officials said that more than 90% of the wildfires have been smothered before they spread beyond 5ha.

But for those unlucky enough to get caught up in one of the uncontrolled wildfires, immediate evacuation was the only option.

“I left with what I had on,” said Carolina Torres, who fled from an approaching fire near the city of Puren, in the region of Araucania.

“I think everyone here did the same thing because the winds shifted and you just had to grab everything right away.”

On Friday President Gabriel Boric cut short his summer holiday and travelled to Nuble and Biobio, pledging to make sure the affected areas receive all necessary support.

Boric also pointed to “signs” that some fires may have been started intentionally, but did not provide details.

Reuters