Wildfires in southern Chile have claimed at least 15 lives and forced over 50,000 people to evacuate as President Gabriel Boric declared a state of emergency in the Nuble and Biobio regions. With nearly 4,000 firefighters battling 14 blazes fueled by high winds and temperatures nearing 100°F, Interior Minister Alvaro Elizalde described the situation as complicated. Most evacuations occurred in the towns of Penco and Lirquen, where fast-moving flames devastated homes. The fires are part of a troubling trend, with severe wildfires impacting south-central Chile in recent years.
