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Wildfires raging successful confederate Chile person killed astatine slightest 15 radical and forced much than 50,000 to evacuate, the authorities said Sunday (January 18, 2026).
Security Minister Luis Cordero gave the tolls for the blazes burning for 2 days present successful the Nuble and Biobio regions astir 500 kilometers (300 miles) southbound of Santiago.
President Gabriel Boric earlier declared a authorities of exigency arsenic crews battled flames fueled by gusting winds and blistery upwind successful the confederate hemisphere summer.
Nearly 2 twelve blazes are burning crossed the country, galore of them successful Nuble and Biobio.
“We look a analyzable situation,” Interior Minister Alvaro Elizalde said.
The President announced the authorities of exigency successful Nuble and Biobio successful a station connected the societal media level X.
“All resources are available,” Mr. Boric wrote. Among different things the declaration means the equipped forces volition present get involved.
Alicia Cebrian, the manager of the National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response, said astir of the evacuations were successful the Biobio cities of Penco and Lirquen, which person a combined colonisation of astir 60,000 people.
Images broadcast by section tv showed the flames successful some cities, with charred cars successful the streets.
Wildfires person severely impacted south-central Chile successful caller years.
In February 2024, respective fires broke retired simultaneously adjacent the metropolis of Vina del Mar, northwest of Santiago, resulting successful 138 deaths, according to the nationalist prosecutor’s office.
About 16,000 radical were affected by those fires, authorities said.
