At least 15 dead and 50,000 people evacuated due to fires in southern Chile
At least 15 people were killed by Fires struck two areas in the south of ChileIt forced more than 50,000 people to evacuate their homes, according to what the authorities reported on Sunday.
Security Minister Luis Cordero told reporters that the fires resulted "At least 15 dead" More than 50,000 people were evacuated in the regions of Noble and Biobio, about 500 kilometers south of Santiago.
Natural disaster
The country’s president, Gabriel Buric, declared the two regions afflicted by a natural disaster.
The outgoing leftist president wrote in a post on X "In light of the dangerous fires, I decided to declare a state of natural disaster in the areas of Nieuble and Viovio"
Strong winds
The fires broke out on Saturday in the midst of the southern summer season, which is characterized by high temperatures and strong winds.
In recent years, the severity of forest fires has intensified in Chile, especially in the southern centre.
On February 2, 2024, several fires broke out in the vicinity of the city of Viña del Mar, 110 kilometers from the city Santiago, towards the northwest, claimed 138 lives, according to the latest figures.
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