Overview
- The fires ignited Saturday during the austral summer, driven by high temperatures and strong winds about 500 km south of Santiago.
- Authorities reported the deaths concentrated in Biobío, and the mayor of Penco said 14 people died in that locality alone.
- Penco and nearby Lirquén were among the hardest hit, with entire neighborhoods burned and residents fleeing with only what they wore.
- Officials described the situation as totally out of control, with forecasts warning of more extreme conditions and about 3,700 firefighters deployed.
- President Gabriel Boric’s declaration enables army deployment, and the disaster recalls Chile’s deadly February 2024 fires that killed 138 near Viña del Mar.