Chile Declares Emergency as Wildfires Kill at Least 19

A vehicle and a house are engulfed in flames during a wildfire in Concepcion, Chile, on 18 January, 2026.

Chile has declared a state of emergency as uncontrolled wildfires swept through southern regions, killing at least 19 people and forcing tens of thousands to flee their homes, authorities said on Sunday.

The fires have been burning for two days in the Nuble and Biobio regions, about 500 kilometres south of the capital, fuelled by strong winds and high summer temperatures. More than 50,000 people have been displaced as entire neighbourhoods were reduced to ashes.

Local officials said most of the deaths were reported in the coastal town of Penco, where flames spread rapidly through residential areas. Nearby Lirquen, a port town of around 20,000 people, also suffered extensive damage, with residents describing how the fire advanced within seconds.

In several areas, people escaped by running towards the coastline, while soldiers were deployed to patrol affected towns as night fell. Despite an imposed curfew, some residents continued clearing debris and battling remaining fires.

President Gabriel Boric declared the emergency in Nuble and Biobio, allowing the armed forces to assist nearly 4,000 firefighters struggling to contain the blazes. He visited the hard-hit city of Concepcion to oversee response efforts and warned that conditions remained “very difficult”.

Disaster management officials said evacuations were concentrated mainly in Penco and Lirquen, home to a combined population of about 60,000. Forecasts of continued heat and strong winds were expected to further complicate firefighting efforts.

Wildfires have increasingly affected south-central Chile in recent years, a trend authorities link to climate change-driven extreme weather, prolonged droughts and rising temperatures.