Wildfires in Chile leave 18 dead,Thousands forced to flee

Wildfires raging across central and southern Chile on Sunday left at least 18 people dead, scorched thousands of acres of forest and destroyed hundreds of homes, authorities said, as the South American country swelters under a heat wave. Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in the country's central Biobio region and the neighboring Ñuble region, around 500 kilometers south of Santiago, the capital.In a press conference from the hard-hit city of Concepción in the Biobio region, Boric expressed his support and condolences to the victims and warned that the government's initial reports of 18 people killed and 300 houses destroyed were expected to rise as the extent of the losses came into focus.
Officials and local media reports confirm this blaze has destroyed swathes of forested land and has placed around three thousand homes at risk. Authorities are especially worried the flames may reach the Indura gas plant, where flammable materials are stored. Emergency responders, including firefighters and forestry crews, are battling the blaze. Authorities are coordinating evacuations and urging the public to follow instructions from the National Emergency Office. Authorities are also cautioning about air quality concerns and recommending that people limit outdoor exposure to smoke, especially for children, the elderly, and those with health conditions.
Firefighters struggled to extinguish the flames, with the heat and strong winds hampering their efforts. Temperatures topped 38 C (100 F) on Sunday, and the scorching weather was expected to persist through Monday.Wildfires afflict central and southern Chile every summer, typically reaching a peak in February as temperatures surge and the country continues to reel from a yearslong drought.