Chile Declares State of Emergency as Deadly Wildfires Ravage the South. Chilean President Gabriel Boric has declared a state of catastrophe in two southern regions after devastating wildfires forced mass evacuations and claimed at least 18 lives. The emergency was announced in the regions of Ñuble and Bío Bío, around 500 kilometres south of Santiago, where firefighters continue to battle dozens of active blazes. Authorities say nearly 8,500 hectares of land have already been burned, putting multiple communities at risk. Close to 20,000 people have been evacuated so far, while at least 250 homes have been destroyed, according to Chile's disaster agency. Boric said all state resources are being mobilised to respond to the crisis. Officials warn that strong winds and extreme heat, with temperatures reaching up to 38 degrees Celsius, are fuelling the fires and hampering containment efforts. The disaster comes amid a wider heatwave affecting both Chile and Argentina, raising concerns over increasingly severe wildfire seasons in the region.