Chile Wildfires: 18 Dead, Thousands Evacuated as Blazes Ravage Southern Regions

• Wildfires in Southern Chile have claimed at least 18 lives and forced approximately 50,000 people to evacuate their homes.
• A 'state of catastrophe' has been declared for Ñuble and Biobío regions due to the raging fires.
• Chilean President Gabriel Boric has imposed curfews and established emergency shelters to manage the crisis.
• Currently, 24 fires are active nationwide, primarily in southern forested areas, charring thousands of hectares.
• Chile experiences annual wildfires, with January and February being the peak months; the government allocated $180 million for fire fighting.

Why It Matters: Devastating wildfires in Southern Chile have caused significant loss of life, widespread destruction, and mass evacuations.