In photos: the intense fires that put central Chile on alert

In the midst of an intense heat wave, the central zone of Chili It has been affected by a series of forest fires.

The sources of fire have spread to the regions of Valparaíso, Metropolitana, Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins and Maule, putting the health and lives of the people who live in the closest areas at risk.

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Due to a dense layer of smoke with which the Metropolitan Region woke up, where Santiago, the capital of the country, is located, the authorities decreed this Friday a “health risk alert”as a preventive measure to protect people’s health.

They recommended avoiding direct exposure to smoke and suspended physical activities in schools and partially suspended classes in some educational centers.

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The central zone of the country has registered a heat wave with record temperatures and low humidity, creating the conditions for the flames to spread more quickly.

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The high temperatures registered in recent days – which have reached 37 degrees Celsius in the capital and up to 40 degrees in rural areas – have made attempts to control the fires difficult, while emergency teams work intensively to try to put out the current sources. and prevent new ones from being activated.

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The government asked the population at risk (children, the elderly, and people with heart and respiratory problems) to avoid being exposed to smoke and to wear a mask.

He also asked the inhabitants not to carry out physical activities in public places and to avoid transfers, unless they are strictly necessary.

https://twitter.com/DPPMelipilla/status/1603128424775749636

The National Emergency Office (Onemi) of the Chilean Ministry of the Interior and the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf) are monitoring 16 active sources of fire in different regions of the country.

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Due to the rapid advance of the flames, in some sectors a preventive evacuation of the population and some routes have been interrupted to facilitate access by emergency vehicles.

Official estimates indicate that so far the fire has consumed nearly 7,000 hectares of forest and has left dozens of homes evacuated.

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In coastal areas, the flames are combined with strong winds that increase the danger of the fires and accelerate their spread.

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In the last five years, it is estimated that nearly 20,000 hectares have been affected each year by forest fires in the country.

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Santiago woke up this Friday with a dense layer of smoke that represents a health risk, especially for people with respiratory difficulties.

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On social networks, people actively shared photos and videos of what is happening in the South American country.

Help we need help, Colliguay is burning ???? many people evacuating#Forest fire #colliguay@biobio @biobiovalpo @bomberosCBQ @siteoftheevent @Quilpue_News @EQuilpue @Quilpue pic.twitter.com/ve3k0JbRNy

— Paulini????✨ (@Onlypaaau) December 15, 2022

Situation in Argentina

In parallel, another wave of fires affects eight provinces in northern Argentina.

According to the country’s authorities, this Friday 16 outbreaks remained active that presented great difficulties to be controlled.

The most important fires were registered this week in the surroundings of the Paraná river delta, an area located between the eastern provinces of Santa Fé and Entre Ríos that, in recent years, has been the scene of multiple fires.

The authorities point out that the fires are due to extreme dry conditions, although they have also affirmed that the deliberate burning of pastures has played a role.

Source: Elcomercio