Chile Declares Catastrophe as Wildfires Kill 16

Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe on Sunday in the central-southern regions of Biobío and Ñuble, where at least 24 wildfires have killed 16 people, destroyed more than 250 homes and forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate. The blazes, fueled by strong winds and extreme heat, have ravaged about 8,500 hectares of land roughly 500 kilometers south of Santiago, affecting communities including the coastal cities of Penco and Lirquén.

Authorities reported 15 deaths in Biobío and one in Ñuble, with charred remains found in homes, vehicles and fields. Security Minister Luis Cordero confirmed the toll during a Sunday press conference, noting that the fires broke out suddenly after midnight, catching many residents off guard. In Penco, home to around 30,000 people, flames engulfed neighborhoods, burning cars, a school and a church. "We fled running, with the kids, in the dark," said Juan Lagos, 52, a local resident who escaped the inferno. Another resident, John Guzmán, 55, described the scene: "Many people didn't evacuate. They stayed in their houses because they thought the fire would stop at the edge of the forest. It was completely out of...