Thousands of people have been forced to flee and hundreds of homes have been destroyed by the blazes, blamed on the El Nino weather system which has caused droughts and hotter-than-usual temperatures along the west of South America this year. Four hospitals and three old people’s homes have also had to be evacuated. More than 450 firefighters have been drafted in and 19 helicopters deployed to try to tackle the outbreaks in Chile.
Wildfires in Chile kill dozens as fast-spreading flames wreak devastation
