February 19, 2026

Athens News

News in English from Greece

Southern Chile is on fire: at least 15 dead, tens of thousands evacuated


Forest fireswhich continue to spread in the south Chileremain uncontrollable: according to official data, died at least 15 peopleand more 50,000 inhabitants were forced to leave their homes.

As the Minister of Security told the press Luis Corderothe tragedy affected primarily the regions Newble And Biobiolocated approximately 500 kilometers south of Santiago. According to him, the fires have already led to large-scale evacuations, and the fight against the fire continues amid difficult weather conditions.

President of Chile Gabriel Borich declared the affected areas a zone natural disaster. “Given the severity of the fires, I have decided to declare a state of natural disaster for the provinces of Newble and Biobio“, he said in a post on the social network X.

The fires broke out the day before – at the height of summer in the southern hemisphere. Among the key factors complicating the situation are: high temperatures And storm windsdue to which the fire quickly spreads to new areas.

According to National Forest Service of Chile (CONAF)fire departments are fighting 24 active lesions all over the country. The largest fronts persist precisely in Newble And Biobiowhere already entered emergency mode.





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