The Chilean authorities published two evacuation alerts on Sunday for the southern Araucanía region as forest fire rage. At least one person died.
The country’s government said this decision aims to protect more than 860,000 people.
The Government of Chile has ordered evacuation in imminent risk regions, urging residents to leave their homes and take refuge in safe areas. It did not provide figures on damage or the number of people evacuated as a result of a request from the Associated Press.
The authorities confirmed the death of an 84 -year -old woman who had been evacuated but who finally returned home.
The Araucanía, south of the capital Santiago, faced a wave of forest fires that spread quickly due to high temperatures, strong winds and drought. The authorities have published a red alert in several parts of the region while the fire fighting teams are fighting against the flames.
The president of Chile Gabriel Boric, who ordered a curfew in regions affected on SaturdayRecently said that some fires are “deliberate” and have urged an investigation. Police arrested five people this weekend in connection with the case.
Forest fires recently devastated 33,406 hectares in Chile, 44% less than last year, authorities said. A large part of these flames are at the Araucanía.
Temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, or 104 Fahrenheit, this weekend stimulated forest fires in the region.
“These temperatures are not at all normal, they are higher than normal ranges. Unfortunately, with climate change, they seem more and more frequent,” Meteorology Service told Reuters Andres.
Dozens of people were killed last year and more than 1,000 houses were destroyed Due to forest fires in the Valparaiso region. These fires were also powered by an intense heat wave and winds.
