Chile declares state of emergency.

Chile declared a state of emergency amid rapidly spreading forest fires in the country's central region. The fires have claimed at least 10 lives, and destroyed thousands of hectares of forest since Friday. Chilean President Gabriel Boric deployed all forces against the fires, and held an emergency assessment meeting on Saturday. The fires are driven by a summer heatwave and drought in the southern part of South America, likely exacerbated by the El Niño weather phenomenon, and scientists warn that a warming planet increases the risk of natural disasters like intense heat and fires.

February 03, 2024
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