Chile Declares State of Catastrophe as Wildfires Kill at Least 19
A devastating wave of wildfires intensified by extreme temperatures has left at least 19 people dead and forced more than 50,000 residents to flee their homes in south-central Chile.
On Sunday, President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in the regions of Ñuble and Biobío, roughly 300 miles south of the capital, Santiago.
The death toll, which stood at 18 earlier Monday morning, was updated to 19 as emergency crews reached previously inaccessible areas.
President Boric warned the public that the number of fatalities is “certainly” expected to rise as crews navigate the charred remains of residential neighborhoods.
A Rapidly Escalating Crisis
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Evacuation Crisis: Over 50,000 people have been displaced. The coastal cities of Penco and Lirquén, home to a combined 60,000 people, were among the hardest hit.
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Infrastructure Loss: Preliminary estimates suggest 300 homes have been destroyed, but President Boric noted that the final tally will likely exceed 1,000 structures.
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Active Fire Fronts: Chile’s forestry agency, CONAF, reported battling 24 to 33 active fires nationwide. The most dangerous, the Trinitarias fire, has scorched over 23 kilometers and threatened a major gas plant and thousands of additional homes.
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Military Deployment: The declaration of a state of catastrophe allows the Chilean armed forces to take control of logistics and security, with nearly 4,000 firefighters and soldiers currently deployed.
“It Was Out of Control”: Survival Stories
Survivors in Penco described a “whirlwind of fire” that descended on the town in the early hours of Sunday. Many residents were caught off guard, believing the flames would stop at the forest’s edge.
“We had to leave with the shirts on our back,” said Matias Cid, 25, a student in Penco. “If we had stayed another 20 minutes, we would have burned to death.”
Extreme Weather Outlook
Firefighting efforts have been severely hampered by a brutal heatwave and shifting winds. On Sunday, temperatures peaked at 100°F (38°C), and Interior Minister Álvaro Elizalde warned that weather conditions for Monday remain “complex and unfavorable.”
To maintain public safety and allow emergency vehicles unimpeded access, the government has imposed nighttime curfews in Penco, Lirquén, Nacimiento, and Laja.
This disaster comes nearly two years after the 2024 Valparaíso wildfires, which claimed 138 lives. President Boric emphasized that while the first priority is extinguishing the flames, the country must brace for the “human tragedies” that follow such widespread destruction.