Natural disasters | More than 20 people have already died in the fires in Chile, and there are about 250 active fires in the country

Foreign countries|Natural disasters

South America At least 22 people have died in wildfires raging in Chile, authorities said on Saturday. In addition, more than 550 people have been injured, a dozen of them seriously.

The heatwave has caused hundreds of fires in the country since Wednesday. Minister of the Interior Carolina Tohan according to local time in Chile on Saturday, there were about 250 active fires, of which at least 75 started in the last day.

Temperatures in the country have risen up to 40 degrees Celsius, which has made it difficult to control the fires in the dry terrain.

The fires have destroyed at least a hundred homes and 47,000 hectares of forest.

About 2,300 rescuers have been ordered to extinguish the fires, with the help of 75 airplanes or helicopters.

President of Chile Gabriel Boric has interrupted his vacation to visit the fire areas. He has tweeted that he will continue to work to fight forest fires and help families.

Chilean the government extended the declared state of emergency to also cover the Araucania region. A state of emergency was already in force in the Ñuble and Biobío regions. With the state of emergency, the country’s military can be ordered to help fight fires and put out the fire.

Neighboring Argentina has offered to send firefighters and equipment to Chile. Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico and Spain have also offered their help.

According to Interior Minister Toha, the conditions for fires that seemed extreme just three years ago are becoming more common every year.

“We are becoming one of the most vulnerable countries to fires, which is basically due to climate change,” Toha said.

A forest fire was extinguished on Saturday in Purén. Picture: Javier Torres/AFP

The ruins of a burnt house in Purén. Picture: Javier Torres/AFP