The following is a feature from Associate Press.
Chile is reeling from one of its most serious wildfire emergencies in years.
Deadly flames sweeping across central and southern parts of the South American country have turned large swaths of forest and towns to ash, killed at least 20 people, forced tens of thousands from their homes and left families sifting through charred debris.
Fire scientists say the blazes are being driven not only by extreme heat, drought and wind, but also by how human-shaped landscapes interact with changing climates — a lethal mix that makes fires harder to control.
The fires began around mid-January in the Biobio and Nuble regions, roughly 500 kilometers (300 miles) south of the capital, Santiago. Within days, deaths were reported, more than 50,000 residents had evacuated and firefighters were battling more than a dozen active blazes. The government declared a state of catastrophe — a rare emergency designation allowing for military coordination in firefighting efforts.
The fires have razed forests, farmland and hundreds of homes. In towns such as Penco and Lirquen, families confronted scenes of destruction — roofs collapsed, vehicles melted into twisted frames and community buildings reduced to rubble.
Full feature article here.
