Chile – Chile on Saturday extended. An emergency declaration to another region. As firefighters battled to control dozens of wildfires that have killed. At least 22 people amid a record-breaking heat wave.
The government has declared a disaster in the region of La Araucania.
Which is south of Ñuble and Biobio, two central-south regions. Where emergency declarations have already been issued. This measure allows for greater cooperation with the military.
Interior Minister Carolina Toha said at least 22 people were killed and 554 injured in the blaze, 16 of them . The death toll could rise as Toha said there were unconfirmed reports of at least 10 people missing.
Sixteen of the deaths occurred in Biobio, five in La Araucania, and one in Ñuble.
Among the dead was a Bolivian pilot who died when a helicopter helping to fight a fire in La Araucania crashed. A Chilean mechanic also died in the accident.
Last week, the fire burned through an area equal to what is burned in an entire year, Toha said at a news conference.
Fires occur during record high temperatures.
“The thermometer has reached a point we’ve never known before,” Toha said.
As of Saturday morning, there were 251 wildfires across Chile. Which 151 were under control, according to Chile’s Senaprade disaster agency.
“There were 76 new fires yesterday,” Toha said Saturday.
The minister also suggested that the fire should serve. As a further wake-up call about the effects of climate change.
“The evolution of climate change has shown us again. And again that it has a centrality and an impact that we need to internalize much more,” Toha said. “Chile is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, and this is not theory, but reality.”
Chile is requesting international cooperation to aid firefighting efforts.
“We are asking for support from several countries to deal with the emergency. President Gabriel Boric wrote on social media.
