By Mohamad Hojeije | Staff Writer
Forest fires are causing widespread destruction in the central and southern regions of Chile.
As of February 8th, 2023, the fires have burned through more than 230.000 hectares of land,
currently standing at 300.000 hectares, an area twice the size of Greater London. The
blazes have been fueled by hot and dry conditions, as Chile faces a heatwave of above
40°C, along with strong winds that have made it difficult for firefighters to bring the situation
under control. The fires have destroyed homes and valuable resources, and have forced
thousands of people to evacuate their homes. According to Reuters, this is the country’s
deadliest wildfire, and a BBC article claims that wildlife is threatened in the area.
The Chilean government has declared a state of emergency in several regions and has
deployed over 4,000 troops and military aircraft to help battle the fires. Notwithstanding,
these efforts have not been enough as the situation remains disastrous and the fires are
spreading rapidly. Many residents have been forced to evacuate their homes, and there
have been reports of people being trapped and unable to escape the flames.
The cause of the fires is still being investigated, but authorities suspect that they may have
been started by people who were looking to clear land for agriculture or other purposes. A
few people were arrested on Monday, Feb 11th, but with no further clarifications from
authorities. Although unconfirmed, this explanation seems plausible as this is a common
practice of livestock and grain industries in Latin America. The dry conditions and strong
winds have created the needed scenario that has made it incredibly difficult to control the
fires once they have started.
So far, more than 20 people have been killed, and the country, having already received aid
from Argentina and Spain, and more than $ 600,000 USD from Brazil, expects to receive
more aid from neighboring countries such as Brazil, and Paraguay, among others. On top of
that, the country faces a drought, and that is already causing tensions over water.
The fires are not only causing destruction on the ground, but they are also having a major
impact on the environment. Smoke from the fires is reaching high into the atmosphere,
causing widespread air pollution and affecting visibility. The fires are also releasing large
amounts of greenhouse gases into the air, which ultimately contribute to climate change.