Chile fires kill at least 18 as firefighters battle extreme heat, winds
January 19, 202612:34 AM GMTUpdated 6 hours ago
SANTIAGO, Jan 18 (Reuters) – Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in two regions in the south of the country on Sunday as raging wildfires forced at least 20,000 people to evacuate and left at least 18 people dead.
According to Chile’s CONAF forestry agency, firefighters were battling 24 active fires across the country as of Sunday morning, with the largest being in the regions of Ñuble and Bío Bío, where the government declared the emergency. The regions are about 500 km south of the capital, Santiago.
Climate Change, due to excessive carbon emissions, is devastating Latin America:
Climate Change Impacts in Latin America
Latin America’s climate is changing. Precipitation patterns are shifting, temperatures are rising, and some areas are experiencing changes in the frequency and severity of weather extremes such as heavy rains. The impacts range from melting Andean glaciers to devastating floods and droughts.
The two great oceans that flank the continent—the Pacific and the Atlantic—are warming and becoming more acidic while sea level also rises.
Unfortunately, greater impact is in store for the region as both the atmosphere and oceans continue to rapidly change. Food and water supplies will be disrupted. Towns and cities and the infrastructure required to sustain them will be increasingly at risk. Human health and welfare will be adversely affected, along with natural ecosystems.
This photo story shows the devastating impacts across Latin America.EXTREME WEATHER
https://www.wwfca.org/en/our_work/climate_change_and_energy/climate_change_impacts_la/
borderslynn 