At least 16 people have died as a result of a wave of forest fires raging fiercely in the central-south zone of Chile, according to authorities from Public Security and the Interior reported this Sunday. The Biobío region is the epicenter of the disaster, concentrating 15 of the fatal victims reported in the last few hours. Faced with the magnitude of the emergency, President Gabriel Boric decreed a State of Catastrophe for the Ñuble and Biobío regions, allowing the immediate deployment of military and economic resources to combat the fires and assist the victims. Current situation: The advance of the fire The National Forestry Corporation (Conaf) maintains constant monitoring of active hotspots, warning that weather conditions are complicating firefighting tasks. Victims: 16 confirmed deaths, with warnings that the number could increase as rescue teams gain access to the affected areas. Area affected: More than 10,000 hectares have been consumed by flames in less than 48 hours. Evacuations: Nearly 50,000 people have had to leave their homes due to the proximity of the fire. Critical focus: The fire in the commune of Concepción (Biobío) is currently the largest, with over 2,100 hectares destroyed. Government actions and risks The Minister of the Interior, Álvaro Elizalde, emphasized that the absolute priority is the preservation of human life, although he admitted that the confirmation of total damage will only be possible once the danger to firefighters has diminished. 'All resources are available,' Boric assured from Santiago, while emergency teams from across the country are moving south.
