Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of emergency on Sunday as raging forest fires have killed at least 40 people and destroyed thousands of hectares of land in the central and southern regions of the country.
The fires, which started last week amid a severe drought and high temperatures, have spread rapidly across six regions, affecting more than 100,000 people and forcing the evacuation of several towns and villages.
Boric said the state of emergency would allow the government to mobilize more resources and coordinate the efforts of the national and regional authorities, the military, the police, and the firefighters.
