El Nino and Strong Winds... At Least 46 Dead in Chile Wildfires

92 Fires in Central and Southern Regions... 1,100 Houses Destroyed
Evacuation Order for Thousands of Residents in Valparaiso, Central Region

In the central and southern regions of Chile, dozens of recent wildfires have spread to residential areas, resulting in at least 46 deaths and the destruction of over 1,100 homes.

On the 3rd (local time), foreign media including the AP reported that Chilean President Gabriel Boric announced these damages in a speech. President Boric stated, "The fire is spreading rapidly, and the combination of hot, dry weather and strong winds is making it difficult to control," adding, "The large wildfire in Valpara?so Province may cause further damage."

On the 3rd (local time), houses in the El Olivar area of Vi?a del Mar, Valpara?so Province, Chile, scorched due to the wildfire.
Photo by EPA Yonhap News

The largest wildfire occurred in the central Valpara?so Province, where authorities have issued evacuation orders to thousands of residents. Power outages caused by the fire forced patients and elderly residents in four local hospitals and three nursing homes to seek shelter elsewhere. In this area, 19 helicopters and more than 450 firefighters have been deployed for firefighting efforts. Authorities stated that the death toll from this wildfire is the highest among wildfires in Chile over the past decade.

Earlier, Interior Minister Carolina Toha reported that a total of 92 wildfires had occurred in the southern and central regions, where temperatures had been unusually high. The fire that started on the 2nd near the western city of Quilpu? in Valpara?so Province and the central city of Villa Alemana burned at least 8,000 hectares (about 80 km²). The fire is threatening Vi?a del Mar, a representative resort city in Chile. The fact that wildfires are occurring near urban areas is also a concern. Minister Toha expressed worry, saying, "Fires that are likely to affect people, homes, and facilities are occurring close to urban areas."

On the 3rd (local time), residents are watching the wildfire from a hill in Vi?a del Mar, Valpara?so Region, Chile.
[Photo by EPA Yonhap News]

Chile frequently experiences wildfires during the summer, and last year, 400,000 hectares (about 4,000 km²) were damaged, with 27 fatalities. This year, the western South American region including Peru and Ecuador has seen intensified heatwaves due to the El Ni?o phenomenon, increasing wildfire risks. El Ni?o is a phenomenon where sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator abnormally rise. Additionally, the combination of heatwaves, drought, and strong winds is causing small sparks to escalate into large fires. Last month in Colombia, dry weather persisted for several weeks, with daytime temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius, resulting in wildfires that destroyed over 17,000 hectares (about 170 km²) of forest.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.