Wildfire in Southern Chile Claims Lives and Evacuates Residents
A significant wildfire has erupted in southern Chile, resulting in at least 19 fatalities and displacing over 1,500 residents.
In light of the critical situation, President Gabriel Boric has announced his resignation. A state of emergency has been implemented in the regions impacted by Jubre and Biobio.
“Over 630 individuals have been evacuated, with nine evacuation centers now operational. More than 1,500 people are reported affected, 325 homes have been destroyed, and over 1,100 are under evaluation,” noted Chilean Security Minister Luis Cordero at a press briefing. He labeled these wildfires as “megafires,” echoing similar incidents in 2017, 2023, and 2024.
“The scale of the fires is immense. We’ve been battling the flames since early this morning, and efforts will continue into tomorrow,” he explained, revealing that 18 of the 19 deaths were in the Biobio region, while one occurred in Uvle.
President Boric shared on social media that after discussions with local officials in the most affected areas, he reached out to conservative President-elect José Antonio Kast to keep him informed. Kast is set to take office on March 11.
“I’ll see you tomorrow at La Moneda, just to keep him updated,” Boric stated. “In challenging times, Chile stands united. Our administration and the incoming president will work collaboratively.”
Similarly, President-elect Kast announced he had a virtual meeting with regional officials to discuss the ongoing crisis in Biobio and Uvle.
“I appreciate the dialogue between my team and the governors of Biobio, Uvre, and Maule, as well as the mayors of Penko and Tomé, as we assess the catastrophe in the south. We must work collectively to address this emergency and begin recovery efforts,” Kast expressed.
As of early Monday, emergency responders were combating over 22 fires nationwide, with local news outlets reporting that more than 25,000 hectares have been affected. The most substantial fire near Trinitarias has impacted 10,621 hectares.
At this point, the cause of the wildfire remains unclear. A specialized team from the Chilean prosecutor’s office and local police has started collecting testimonies and reviewing surveillance footage to determine its origin.
“Identifying a starting point is crucial to ascertain if third-party involvement occurred or if the incident stemmed from an accident or other reasons,” CNN Chile reported. “No hypotheses have been dismissed so far.”
