Chile declares state of catastrophe in 2 regions after wildfires kill 18

Chilean President Gabriel Boric on Sunday declared a state of catastrophe in the regions of Nuble and Biobio due to severe forest fires that have killed 18 people, authorizing the use of all necessary resources to combat the blazes.

More than 50,000 people have been displaced by blazes burning for two days now in the Nuble and Biobio regions about 500 kilometers south of Santiago, fanned by strong winds and hot weather. The president traveled to the badly impacted city of Concepcion to oversee the firefighting efforts.

Boric announced a nighttime curfew in the most affected towns, warning, "conditions are very difficult." He returned to Santiago in the evening, pledging to meet with president-elect Jose Antonio Kast on Monday to share information about the forest fires.