Wildfires sweep across central and southern Chile, leaving a trail of destruction and death in their wake. The fires, which have raged for hours, have already claimed the lives of at least 18 people, leaving families without homes or loved ones.
President Gabriel Boric has declared a state of catastrophe in the affected regions, allowing the military to take control of efforts to combat the fires. However, many residents are still waiting for help to arrive, and some have reported feeling abandoned by the government.
The wildfires have scorched thousands of hectares of forest and destroyed hundreds of homes, leaving families without shelter or a way to recover from the disaster. The heatwave has also made it difficult for firefighters to work, with temperatures reaching as high as 38C (100F) in some areas.
"I didn't evacuate because I thought the fire would stop at the edge of the forest," said John Guzmán, who witnessed the destruction firsthand in Penco. "It was completely out of control. No one expected it."
The fires have also taken a devastating toll on local communities, with many residents reporting feeling trapped and powerless as their homes were consumed by flames.
"We fled running, with the kids, in the dark," said Juan Lagos, who escaped the fire with his family. "We had to leave with just our shirts on our backs. If we had stayed another 20 minutes, we would have burned to death."
Charred bodies have been found across fields, homes, roads, and cars, leaving a grim reminder of the tragedy unfolding in Penco.
The government has acknowledged that its response to the disaster has been inadequate, with many residents expressing frustration and anger at the slow pace of help.
"We knew them well," said Víctor Burboa, who reported finding charred bodies. "Everyone here knew them."
As the situation continues to deteriorate, families are left to pick up the pieces and try to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of this devastating disaster.
The full extent of the damage is still unclear, but one thing is certain - Chile will never forget the devastation caused by these wildfires.
President Gabriel Boric has declared a state of catastrophe in the affected regions, allowing the military to take control of efforts to combat the fires. However, many residents are still waiting for help to arrive, and some have reported feeling abandoned by the government.
The wildfires have scorched thousands of hectares of forest and destroyed hundreds of homes, leaving families without shelter or a way to recover from the disaster. The heatwave has also made it difficult for firefighters to work, with temperatures reaching as high as 38C (100F) in some areas.
"I didn't evacuate because I thought the fire would stop at the edge of the forest," said John Guzmán, who witnessed the destruction firsthand in Penco. "It was completely out of control. No one expected it."
The fires have also taken a devastating toll on local communities, with many residents reporting feeling trapped and powerless as their homes were consumed by flames.
"We fled running, with the kids, in the dark," said Juan Lagos, who escaped the fire with his family. "We had to leave with just our shirts on our backs. If we had stayed another 20 minutes, we would have burned to death."
Charred bodies have been found across fields, homes, roads, and cars, leaving a grim reminder of the tragedy unfolding in Penco.
The government has acknowledged that its response to the disaster has been inadequate, with many residents expressing frustration and anger at the slow pace of help.
"We knew them well," said Víctor Burboa, who reported finding charred bodies. "Everyone here knew them."
As the situation continues to deteriorate, families are left to pick up the pieces and try to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of this devastating disaster.
The full extent of the damage is still unclear, but one thing is certain - Chile will never forget the devastation caused by these wildfires.
ugh, can't believe those gov officials are taking so long to respond 
. It's like they expect ppl to just sit around waiting 4 help 2 arrive 
. I mean, come on! Ppl r dyin out there & u guys are still figuring out how 2 deal with it 
? Firefighters r gettin heatstroke in those temperatures 
. Families r losin homes, loved ones... it's all just so sad 
fire season is getting out of hand everywhere 
it's like they're having a party in hell 
what even is the point of declaring catastrophe if nobody shows up 
at least 18 people dead 
that's just not right 
these wildfires are like a never-ending nightmare 
. Chile needs 2 get back on ther feet ASAP 
& u need 2 do betta 
. It's like the government was caught off guard and doesn't know how to deal with this disaster 
. I'm thinking of all those who had to flee their homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs, it's just heartbreaking 
. We need to be supporting these families and helping them rebuild their lives ASAP 
i saw that video of the fire on instagram and it looked like a movie set or something, but its so real life 
it makes me wanna jump in my car and drive to chile to help or something... how can the government do this to their own people tho? 
i mean i know they're trying, but 20 minutes is a long time and families are literally burning alive 
but it did & now they're stuck 
i mean, i get it, govts have to do a lot, but c'mon, 18 ppl dead is already a lot. why rnt they just mobilizin their resources ASAP? 
the heatwave must have made it really hard for firefighters to work too, temperatures were like 38C in some areas 
did they not have enough resources or something? 
i mean, what was going through those ppl's minds thinking they could outrun a fire at 38c heat? 
it's not exactly rocket science. and now the gov is saying their response has been inadequate... yeah no kidding 
. It's gotta be super tough for everyone involved 
18 lives lost already? 
. Temperatures have been insane, like 38C (100F) 
. It took 'em hours to even acknowledge the disaster 
. 20 minutes could've made all the difference between life and death 
It's like a nightmare come true. And those stories of people having to flee with their kids in the dark, without any clothes or belongings... it's just heartbreaking. 
Can we please do something about climate change? 
.
those poor families who lost loved ones and homes its heartbreaking 
... I mean, I've seen pics of the fires and it's just devastating. Like, 18 people dead? That's crazy! 
And the fact that some people thought the fire would stop at the edge of the forest? Like, how did they not know better?! 
. It's just so heartbreaking.
. These poor people deserve so much better