Overview
- Authorities report about 25 active fires, 11 of them large, with roughly 26,000 hectares burned in Biobío and 8,000 in Ñuble.
- The government declared a state of catastrophe in both regions, imposed night curfews and deployed the military to secure affected zones.
- More than 50,000 residents have been evacuated, shelters are operating in the two regions and widespread power outages have been reported.
- At least 325 homes are confirmed destroyed with over 1,140 under evaluation, and officials caution casualty and damage figures remain provisional.
- Firefighting forces are using 77 aircraft and extensive ground crews as extreme heat, strong winds and low humidity accelerate spread; causes are under investigation with some authorities alleging deliberate ignition.