Chile Wildfires Rage: Death Toll Rises, Towns Destroyed Amid Extreme Heat

• Wildfires in southern Chile have killed at least 19 people and destroyed entire towns, fueled by extreme heat and strong winds.
• The fires, which began Saturday in Nuble and Biobío regions, have burned an area the size of Detroit, damaging or destroying about 1,000 homes.
• President Gabriel Boric declared Nuble and Biobío disaster areas, deploying soldiers to assist, though new fires emerged in Araucania.
• Residents like Yagora Vasquez and Mareli Torres describe the devastation as worse than the 2010 tsunami, with homes reduced to ash.
• Climate change is cited as a factor, contributing to extreme fire seasons in south-central Chile, with similar incidents in 2024 and previous years.

Why It Matters: Devastating wildfires in southern Chile have claimed lives, destroyed towns, and displaced residents, exacerbated by climate change.