At least 20 people have died in four days of devastating wildfires across southern Chile, leaving entire communities in ruins and thick smoke blanketing the air. The fires have burned an area comparable to the size of Detroit in the United States, mainly in the Biobío and Ñuble regions, affecting about 7,200 people. Residents are appealing for urgent assistance as firefighters remain on alert amid forecasts of rising temperatures.

Local accounts describe widespread frustration over limited government support, with many survivors relying on volunteers and neighbors for help. Chile’s Deputy Interior Minister Víctor Ramos said the government has intensified relief efforts and will provide financial aid ranging from 350 to 1,500 US dollars per affected family. Around 4,000 firefighters are battling 21 active fires across Biobío, Ñuble, and Araucanía regions, where hundreds of homes have been destroyed.

Authorities suspect some fires were deliberately set, with one person arrested in Penco for attempted arson. Researchers link the increasing frequency of such wildfires to prolonged heat and dryness associated with climate change, making this year’s fires the worst since February 2024.