SANTIAGO: At least 18 people have died as raging wildfires sweep across southern Chile, forcing the evacuation of nearly 20,000 residents, authorities said on Sunday. Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in the Ñuble and Bío Bío regions, mobilizing all available resources to battle the blazes.
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According to the National Forestry Corporation (CONAF), firefighters were combating 24 active fires nationwide, with the largest and most destructive located in Ñuble and Bío Bío, approximately 500 km south of the capital, Santiago. “In light of the serious ongoing wildfires, I have decided to declare a state of catastrophe in the regions of Ñuble and Biobío. All resources are available,” Boric wrote on X.
🚨 BREAKING | CHILE 🔥😢
Scenes from Penco show entire neighbourhoods burned as wildfires rip through urban areas in Ñuble & Biobío.
• 18 dead
• 50,000+ evacuated
• Hundreds of homes destroyed across 14 wildfires#Breaking #Chile #Wildfires #Penco #Biobío #Ñuble #Emergency pic.twitter.com/6StZnnjI5E— GLOBAL PULSE 360 (@DataIsKnowldge) January 19, 2026
The fires have consumed nearly 8,500 hectares (21,000 acres) in the affected regions, destroying at least 250 homes and threatening multiple communities. Extreme heat, strong winds, and drought conditions have complicated firefighting efforts and contributed to the rapid spread of the flames.
Senapred, Chile’s disaster management agency, confirmed that nearly 20,000 people were evacuated as emergency personnel worked to contain the fires. Mayors of affected municipalities met with President Boric in Concepción to coordinate relief and recovery efforts.
The extreme weather comes amid a broader heatwave affecting Chile and neighboring Argentina, with temperatures in some areas reaching 38°C (100°F). Earlier this month, wildfires in Argentina’s Patagonia destroyed thousands of hectares of forest and grassland.
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Authorities continue to urge residents to remain vigilant and follow evacuation orders. Firefighting teams, including international support, are being deployed to prevent further loss of life and property as conditions remain severe.