Chile heat wave could further fan the flames of deadly wildfires

By Ivan Alvarado

QUILLON, Chile (Reuters) -Chilean authorities on Tuesday warned of a “very complex” situation as a new heat wave in the country’s south-central region threatened to further fan the flames of dangerous forest fires that have already left 24 dead.

Over 293,000 hectares (724,000 acres) have been ravaged by fires this season, and forecasts for higher temperatures stretching from Santiago to the southern regions that have been the focal point of the flames have raised concerns about the 82 active fires.

Another 174 fires are under control.

High temperatures are forecast through Friday and could rise above 35 degrees Celsius (95°F) in the central Maule y Ñuble regions, “creating a very complex situation in terms of weather,” Deputy Interior Minister Manuel Monsalve told reporters.

Later Tuesday, Monsalve said the government had confirmed 24 people had died from the fires, revising a previously reported toll of 26 victims.

Monsalve said international fire brigades from Colombia and Mexico were assisting. He said 17 people had been arrested for possible links to starting the fires, several of them for activities such as welding or burning clothing and animal wool.

Air quality in the affected areas has deteriorated significantly due to the smoke from the fires, said Health Minister Ximena Aguilera.

Chile’s massive pulp and paper company CMPC said in a statement on Tuesday that over 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres) of its plantations have been affected by the fires, while operations at some of its processing plants had been halted.

(Reporting by Ivan Alvarado in Quillon, Chile, and Fabian Andres Cambero in Santiago; Writing by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Anthony Esposito, Rosalba O’Brien and Leslie Adler)