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Raging wildfires successful the Argentine Patagonia person blazed done astir 12,000 hectares of scrubland and planted and autochthonal forests, threatening section communities, according to firefighting authorities.
The fires started astir a week agone successful the Andean portion of the Argentine state of Chubut and are putting a powerfulness works and a schoolhouse astatine hazard arsenic good arsenic affecting agrarian properties, the authorities said connected Sunday (January 11, 2026).
The causes of the fires person not yet been established, but Chubut Governor Ignacio Torres told journalists connected Thursday (January 8, 2026) determination are indications that 1 of the biggest progressive fires was deliberately set.
“The wretches who started the occurrence are going to extremity up successful jail,” Mr. Torres said, portion announcing a reward of 50 cardinal pesos (approximately $34,000) for anyone who provides accusation astir the incident.
Volunteer firefighter Jorge Aranea successful El Hoyo was battling to power the flames connected Friday (January 9, 2026).
“It’s bittersweet to spot everything burning. And sometimes you bash what you tin and it’s not enough. What’s happening is terrible,” helium said.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric connected Saturday (January 10, 2026) offered to assistance the Argentine authorities combat the progressive occurrence fronts.
Chief-of-staff and spokesperson for the Argentine enforcement subdivision Manuel Adorni said connected Sunday (January 10, 2026) that 295 firefighters person been deployed for the firefighting operation, which includes 15 aerial resources, occurrence engines and logistical enactment from the Armed Forces.
In summation to the occurrence successful Chubut, determination are progressive wildfires successful the Patagonian state of Neuquen, according to the Federal Emergency Agency. Santa Cruz and Rio Negro person said their fires person been contained, though they stay nether exigency status.
The wildfires travel a twelvemonth aft the worst blazes successful decades devastated tens of thousands of hectares successful the Patagonia region, destroying dozens of homes and leaving 1 idiosyncratic dead.
Firefighting efforts person been hampered by drought conditions and beardown winds, portion monolithic columns of fume person reduced visibility for responders.
Wildfires are communal during the austral summertime play owed to the operation of precocious temperatures, beardown winds and drought that prevail betwixt December and March.
