El Government of Chile officially confirmed the death of at least 19 people due to the wildfires affecting the Bío Bío and Ñuble regions since Saturday.
The Minister of Security, Luis Cordero, reported that all the victims are civilians, according to information from the Investigative Police (PDI) and Carabineros. The official avoided giving details about the location of the findings to not hinder the investigations.
Authorities warned that the balance could change in the coming hours as emergency efforts progress.
State of disaster and evacuations
During the early morning, between 87 and 88 evacuation messages were issued in threatened areas. The minister emphasized that complying with alerts is essential to save lives.
President Gabriel Boric declared a state of natural disaster in both regions, following the preventive evacuation of about 20,000 people. “All resources are available,” assured the president on his social media.
National situation
The National Forestry Corporation (Conaf) reported that as of 09:30 on Sunday, there were 24 fires being fought throughout Chile, concentrated in Ñuble and Bío Bío, in addition to outbreaks in the Metropolitan region and La Araucanía.
The manager of Forest Fire Protection, Andrés Benedetto, explained that night brigades worked on the protection of homes and evacuations in Bío Bío.
The daily report indicates that 949 fires have been recorded this season, a 7% decrease compared to the previous period. However, the affected area increased by 398%, reaching 4,834.6 hectares.
Argentina: contained fire in Chubut
On the other side of the mountain range, the province of Chubut also suffered the impact of drought. In Puerto Patriada (Comarca Andina), a forest fire consumed nearly 15,000 hectares.
On Friday, it was reported that the fire was contained, although brigades continue with cooling and monitoring tasks.
Tourism reactivation and reconstruction
Following the official announcement of the fire being controlled, Puerto Patriada began receiving tourists again. Providers and authorities seek to “turn the page” and recover a season that was strong until the fire’s advance, when reservations for January were canceled.
The current scene combines:
- Tourism reactivation.
- Preventive controls.
- Start of reconstruction.
Specialists anticipate a challenging season due to the drought and the extreme risk of new outbreaks.
The wildfires in Chile and Argentina reflect the magnitude of the challenge facing the region: saving lives, containing the fire, and rebuilding communities in a context of prolonged droughts and increasing climate risk. Coordination between authorities, brigades, and the population will be key to facing a season marked by environmental vulnerability.
