Chile: At Least 18 Dead in Devastating Wildfires

At least 18 people have died in the devastating wildfires in Chile, according to President Gabriel Boric. Authorities have imposed a nighttime curfew in the most affected areas.

The fires, fueled by high temperatures and strong winds, started on Saturday in the Ñuble and Biobío regions, about 500 kilometers south of Santiago. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed, and thousands of people have been forced to evacuate.

President Boric warned that the death toll may rise. Approximately 3,700 firefighters have been mobilized. In recent years, Chile has been severely affected by forest fires, mainly in the central and southern parts of the country.

In February 2024, fires around the city of Viña del Mar claimed the lives of 138 people.