Santiago

Santiago is the capital of Chile, but recent news focuses on regions approximately 500km (300 miles) south of the capital, specifically the Ñuble and Biobío regions. These areas are currently newsworthy due to devastating wildfires that have been raging for several days. The fires, exacerbated by strong winds and a heatwave, have resulted in at least 18 deaths, displaced over 50,000 people, and destroyed hundreds of homes. President Gabriel Boric has declared a state of catastrophe in the affected regions, enabling increased government resources and emergency measures to combat the blazes and assist those impacted. The severity of the wildfires underscores the vulnerability of these regions to extreme weather events and the urgent need for effective disaster response and prevention strategies.