Deadly Wildfires Sweep Southern Chile, Death Toll Rises to 20
New outbreaks complicate firefighting efforts as 35,000 hectares burn and over 1,000 homes are destroyed.
Ñuble and Biobío, Chile — Wildfires continued to rage across southern Chile on Monday, entering a third day of destruction and claiming more lives as firefighters struggled to contain new outbreaks amid the Southern Hemisphere’s summer heat.
The blazes, which erupted Saturday, were fueled by soaring temperatures and winds exceeding 70 km/h, devastating towns in the Ñuble and Biobío regions, about 500 kilometers south of Santiago.
Interior Minister Álvaro Elizalde confirmed that the death toll had risen to 20, up from 19 reported earlier, and around 1,500 people have been affected. Over 1,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, and nearly 35,000 hectares of land have burned, reducing neighborhoods—and in some cases entire towns—to ash.
President Gabriel Boric, visiting the hardest-hit areas in Ñuble, described the ongoing struggle: “We have managed to control or contain part of the fires. But some remain very active, and we are fighting an intensive battle,” he said. Temperatures fell to about 25°C on Monday, offering only limited relief compared with the extreme heat over the weekend.
The National Forestry Corporation (CONAF) reported that new outbreaks in the Araucanía region, south of Biobío, added pressure on firefighting efforts, with 1,400 hectares still burning on Monday. Biobío remains the epicenter of the disaster, with towns like Lirquén and Penco almost obliterated by the rapid spread of flames Saturday night into Sunday.
For residents, the scene has been nothing short of apocalyptic. Yagora Vásquez, a Lirquén resident, described the chaos: “I tried to douse the house as much as possible, but I saw the flames reaching my neighborhood. I took my son, my brother took my dog, and we left.” Traffic jams and panicked neighbors made escape nearly impossible, she said.
Despite the danger, some residents returned to protect what remained. Constanza Vásquez, Yagora’s sister, explained, “It’s better to prevent unforeseen events and stay here,” as they pitched tents amid the ashes of their former homes.
For others, the trauma echoes past disasters. Mareli Torres, 53, survived the 2010 earthquake and tsunami that struck the same area, only to witness her home destroyed again—this time by fire. “This time a wave of fire came, not water,” she said.
Efforts to recover and rebuild have begun in earnest. In neighborhoods reduced to rubble, residents are clearing roads, salvaging belongings, and surveying the damage. Raúl Muñoz, 67, sifted through debris where his house once stood: “Our neighborhood will never be the same again,” he said.
The Chilean government has declared a state of natural disaster in Ñuble and Biobío, a move that allows for the deployment of the military to assist in relief and firefighting operations.
Wildfires have become increasingly severe in Chile over the past decade. Scientists from the Center for Climate Science and Resilience attribute the trend to rising temperatures and prolonged droughts. Southern regions of Chile have recently recorded unprecedented heat, with temperatures reaching up to 41°C.
The impact extends beyond Chile. Neighboring Patagonia in Argentina also suffered extensive wildfires last week, burning over 15,000 hectares, according to Buenos Aires authorities.
As crews battle the flames and survivors confront the loss of homes and livelihoods, the scale of destruction highlights the growing threat posed by climate-driven wildfires in the region.
