Chilean President Gabriel Boric on Sunday declared a state of catastrophe in two southern regions after fast-moving wildfires killed at least 16 people and forced the evacuation of nearly 20,000 residents.
The emergency was declared in the regions of Ñuble and Biobío, located about 500 kilometres south of the capital Santiago. Chile’s forestry agency CONAF said firefighters were battling at least 24 active fires nationwide as of Sunday morning, with the largest blazes concentrated in the two affected regions.
“In light of the serious ongoing wildfires, I have decided to declare a state of catastrophe in the regions of Ñuble and Biobío. All resources are available,” Boric said in a post on X.
Security Minister Luis Cordero said 15 deaths had been confirmed in Biobío, while one fatality was reported in Ñuble on Saturday, bringing the overall death toll to 16.
🚨JUST IN: Chilling aerial footage exposes the massive Penco, Chile wildfire raging toward 3,000+ homes—evacuations underway as flames engulf the night! #ChileWildfire #Penco pic.twitter.com/g0TyyFmtgi
— News WorldWide (@WorldWIdeNes) January 18, 2026
Authorities said the fires have already burned nearly 8,500 hectares (around 21,000 acres), threatening several communities and prompting mandatory evacuation orders. Chile’s disaster response agency, Senapred, said at least 250 homes have been destroyed.
Officials blamed strong winds and soaring temperatures for fuelling the fires and hampering firefighting efforts. Large parts of Chile remain under extreme heat alerts, with temperatures expected to climb as high as 38 degrees Celsius from Santiago to Biobío through Sunday and Monday.
Chile is not alone in facing extreme weather. Neighbouring Argentina has also been hit by intense heat waves since the start of the year, with major wildfires breaking out in the Patagonia region earlier this month.
