State of Catastrophe Declared for Ñuble and Biobío Due to Forest Fires That Have Already Left Hundreds of Homes Destroyed

The President of the Republic, Gabriel Boric, declared a State of Catastrophe for the regions of Ñuble and Biobío, amid the serious emergency caused by a series of forest fires that remain out of control and have already left more than a hundred homes destroyed, in addition to thousands of hectares consumed by the flames.

The measure aims to strengthen the State's response capacity in the face of the magnitude of the disaster, allowing the deployment of the Armed Forces, the reinforcement of emergency efforts, and greater logistical and operational support for firefighting, as well as to address potential associated disasters. The central objective is to safeguard the population's security, protect critical infrastructure, and facilitate the work of firefighting and prevention teams.

Critical Situation in Ñuble

In the Ñuble region, which remains under a regional Red Alert, authorities reported that over 4,700 hectares have been affected by the advancing fire. Among the fires causing the greatest concern is the one named "Huracán," in the commune of El Carmen, with over 40 hectares consumed; the Monte Negro fire, in Quillón, with a preliminary estimate of nearly 600 hectares; and the El Cardal fire, in the commune of Pinto, which has already exceeded 100 hectares. Additionally, dozens of homes destroyed by the flames have been reported.

Overwhelming Emergency in Biobío

The situation in the Biobío region is equally alarming. The communes of Concepción, Penco, Lirquén, Tomé, and Florida have been severely hit by fires that rapidly advanced towards urban areas, driven by strong winds and adverse weather conditions.

According to preliminary figures provided by the Municipality of Concepción, at least 253 homes had been destroyed as of 06:00 in the morning. Mayor Héctor Muñoz indicated that the El Pino sector would be the most affected and warned that the number of damaged houses could increase in the coming hours.

For his part, the mayor of Penco, Rodrigo Vera, made a desperate plea to central authorities, denouncing a lack of timely response from the State to the emergency. "This is a State problem, a national problem. An entire commune is burning," he stated, urgently requesting the intervention of the Armed Forces to maintain order and support emergency efforts.

Authorities Warn of Historic Magnitude of the Disaster

The governor of Biobío, Sergio Giacaman, described the situation as one of the most serious tragedies the region has experienced in decades. In a conversation with T13, he stated, "What we are experiencing is a catastrophe worse, in my understanding, than what we lived through in 2010. The fire has no mercy on anyone, it sweeps everything away, and the images are truly dramatic."

He also warned that the emergency could worsen during the day due to conditions favorable to the spread of fire, such as wind and high temperatures. Giacaman also questioned the delay in signing the presidential decree that would allow measures like a curfew to be implemented, stating that a more forceful response is key to facilitating the work of emergency teams and safeguarding the population.

While the fires remain active, authorities maintain the call for preventive evacuation in the highest-risk sectors and to strictly follow the instructions of emergency agencies, on a day anticipated to be critical for both regions.