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Chile wildfires leave 19 dead amid extreme heat as scores evacuated

Chilean President Gabriel Boric mobilizes resources amid extreme heat and drought; wildfires have destroyed over 250 homes and forced nearly 20,000 evacuations, officials said.

  • On January 18, 2026, Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in the Biobío and Ñuble regions as fires destroyed much of Lirquén and parts of Penco, killing 18 in Biobío and one in Ñuble.
  • Much of Chile was under extreme heat alerts as temperatures topped 38 C from Santiago to Biobío, with Interior Minister Álvaro Elizalde warning of extreme temperatures and citing yearslong drought and strong winds.
  • Authorities say the blazes have consumed 8,500 hectares, with at least 325 homes confirmed destroyed and damage assessments underway for over 1,100 homes, as of Sunday.
  • Senapred reported nearly 20,000 evacuated and more than 630 sheltering in nine shelters, while President Gabriel Boric wrote `All resources are available` as military coordination expands.
  • Since the beginning of the year, Chile and Argentina have experienced extreme heat, with south-central Chile facing 2024 fires that killed at least 130 people and Argentina hit by devastating Patagonia blazes earlier this month.
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pnt.cl broke the news in on Saturday, January 17, 2026.
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