Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:47pm on 18 Jan 2026,Sunday International
Chile has declared a state of catastrophe as deadly wildfires spread across the south. President Gabriel Boric imposed emergency measures in the Ñuble and Biobío regions. At least 16 people have died and around 20,000 were evacuated. Fires destroyed about 250 homes near Concepción, including Penco and Lirquén. Firefighters are battling 24 fires nationwide. Strong winds and extreme heat are worsening the crisis. Authorities said all resources have been deployed to control the flames. (PC: EPA)
