The worst forest fires in Chile's modern history are raging across wide swathes of the country's central-south regions. Towering flames have swept through forested hills and towns, destroying home and the region's world-renowned vineyards. A state of emergency was declared in Chile last week.
Villagers attempt to quell a forest fire in the town of Litueche in the O'Higgins region, southern ChileCarlos Vera/Reuters
Forest fires are a regular feature of Chile's hot, arid summers, but a nearly decade-long drought combined with historically high temperatures have created tinder-dry conditions.
"We have never seen something of this size, never in Chile's history. And the truth is the (firefighting) forces are doing everything that is humanly possible and will continue to do so until the fires are contained and controlled," President Michelle Bachelet said, as she visited the hard-hit Maule region.
A man leads his horse away from a forest fire in the town of Santa Olga in the Maule regionPablo Sanhueza/ReutersSmoke from a forest fire is seen from the town of Penco in the Concepcion regionJuan Gonzalez/ReutersA firefighter puts a mask on a baby during a forest fire in the town of Penco in the Concepcion region, southern ChileJuan Gonzalez/ReutersA burnt-out tractor is seen next to houses destroyed by a forest fire in the town of Nirivilo in the Maule regionNicolas Martinez/ReutersA firefighter stands next to burnt houses after a forest fire in the town of Nirivilo in the Maule regionNicolas Martinez/ReutersPeople stand with their belongings in the street, after they left their houses because of a forest fire in the town of Vichuquen in the Maule regionCristobal Hernandez/ReutersA forest fire rages through a vineyard in the town of Cauquenes in the Maule region, south ChilePablo Sanhueza/ReutersBurnt grapes are seen in a vineyard after a forest fire in the town of Cauquenes in the Maule region of ChileNicolas Martinez/ReutersFirefighters tackle a forest fire in the town of Florida in the Biobio region of southern ChileJuan Gonzalez/ReutersHuge clouds of smoke tower over the town of Pumanque in southern ChileMoises Catrilaf/National Institute of Agricultural DevelopmentINDAP/ReutersTrees on fire are seen near a house in the town of Hualane, on the outskirts of CuricoCristobal Hernandez/ReutersA forest fire rages along a road in the town of Hualane on the outskirts of the city of Curico in southern ChileCristobal Hernandez/ReutersSmoke of the wildfires from of south of Chile, is seen as a thick haze covering SantiagoPablo Sanhueza/ReutersA huge fire consumes a forest on a hill near Pirque, on the outskirts of SantiagoJavier Torres/AtonChile/ReutersFirefighters carry the burnt body of one of three firefighters of the Chilean National Forest Corporation who died fighting forest fires in the mountainous central Maule regionCristobal Hernandez/ReutersA forest fire rages through the hills around Vichuquen, 283km south of SantiagoMartin Bernetti/AFPA helicopter drops water on a forest fire in PumanqueMartin Bernetti/AFPFirefighters work to put out a fire in PumanqueMartin Bernetti/AFPFirefighters work to put out a fire in Pumanque, 140km south of SantiagoMartin Bernetti/AFPPeople look out over the city of Santiago blanketed by smoke caused by forest firesMartin Bernetti/AFP
At least some of the fires may have been started intentionally and there had been a number of arrests in relation to ongoing investigations, said Bachelet. Three firefighters were killed on 15 January and another three gravely injured. Local media reported on Wednesday (25 January) that another firefighter had died.
