“Large-scale fires in southern Chile: 15 dead, state of emergency introduced.”, — write: www.pravda.com.ua
Source: CBS News
Details: The Minister of Security of Chile, Luis Cordero, officially confirmed that at least 15 citizens were victims of the disaster. According to him, 14 large-scale fires have been raging for two days in the Newble and Bio-Bio regions, located approximately 480 kilometers south of the capital Santiago.
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Responding to the scale of the disaster, President Gabriel Borych signed a decree declaring a state of emergency in these regions. This decision allows the armed forces to be involved in fighting the fire and to mobilize all available resources.
Interior Minister Alvaro Elizalde described the current situation as extremely “difficult”.
About 4,000 firefighters are engaged in extinguishing fires, but the work is complicated by strong wind and abnormal heat. According to forecasts, the temperature in the region may reach 38 degrees Celsius. The forestry agency CONAF called on citizens to avoid trips to areas where rescuers are working.
The main impact of the natural disaster fell on the cities of Penko and Lirken in the Bio-Bio region, where about 60 thousand people live. The mayor of Penko, Rodrigo Vera, said that almost all deaths were recorded in his city.
Prehistory:
- This is not the first time Chile has faced devastating forest fires at this time of year. In February 2024, the south-central part of the country was badly affected by fire.
- According to the prosecutor’s office, the tragedy of 2024 resulted in the death of 138 people. The authorities reported that about 16,000 people were injured as a result of those fires.