At least 19 killed as wildfires sweep through towns in southern Chile

At least 19 people have been killed and dozens more injured by wildfires burning across southern Chile, according to officials. Hundreds of homes and structures have been destroyed.

The fires destroyed much of the coastal town of Lirquén and parts of Penco late Saturday and early Sunday, as flames swept through hundreds of structures near the city Concepción.

Chile’s public security minister, Luis Cordero, said Sunday night that 18 of the fatalities were reported in the Biobío region and one in the Ñuble region. He said more than 630 people are sheltering in nine active shelters, while over 1,500 people are considered disaster victims nationwide.

At least 75 people were injured, including 61 in Biobío and 14 in Ñuble, all of whom have been treated at medical facilities.

Cordero said at least 325 homes have been confirmed destroyed, with damage assessments still underway for more than 1,100 additional homes, most of them in Biobío. Authorities are also evaluating damage to about 140 homes in Ñuble.

Concepción itself was threatened by advancing fires, and some structures were destroyed on the outskirts of the city.

A state of catastrophe has been declared in the affected regions, granting authorities expanded powers to deploy resources and coordinate evacuations.

Wildfires continue to threaten populated areas in the region as firefighting operations remain ongoing. The mayor of Quillón said late Sunday that more than 600 families were being evacuated due to new fire outbreaks.