At least 18 people have died in forest fires in central and southern Chile.
Thousands of hectares of forest have burned and hundreds of homes have been destroyed, authorities said.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of emergency in the central Biobio region and neighboring Nubla, about 500 kilometers south of the capital Santiago.
This emergency measure allows for better coordination with the military to bring under control more than two dozen active fires, which have so far affected 8.500 hectares of forest, according to the national forestry agency.
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At a press conference in the hard-hit town of Concepción in the Biobio region, Borić expressed support and condolences for the victims, and warned that the number of casualties and destroyed homes was expected to rise. So far, 18 deaths have been reported and around 300 houses have been destroyed.
It is estimated, he added, that in Biobio alone, there are certainly more than 1.000 homes affected, so far. Many areas have been evacuated and about 50.000 people have been displaced.
"The first priority in such emergencies, as you know, is always to stop and extinguish the fire. But we must never forget that these are human tragedies, families who are suffering. These are difficult times," said Borić.
His speech followed complaints from local authorities that destruction was visible everywhere for hours, while help did not arrive.
Firefighters battled the flames, while high temperatures and strong winds made extinguishing difficult. Temperatures reached 38 degrees yesterday, and hot weather is expected today.
"Weather conditions in the coming hours are not favorable and indicate extreme temperatures," said Interior Minister Alvaro Elisalde.
Residents said that the fire caught them by surprise after midnight, and that they were trapped in their homes.
"A lot of people didn't evacuate. They stayed in their homes because they thought the fire would stop at the edge of the forest," said John Guzman of Penco. "It was completely out of control. Nobody expected it," he added.
The fire engulfed most of Penko, burning down cars, a school and a church. Thousands of people sought refuge in makeshift shelters.
"We were running, with the children, in the dark," said Juan Lagos.
Fires in central and southern Chile occur every year during the summer, usually peaking in February, when temperatures rise and the country is still feeling the effects of a long-term drought.
Neighboring Argentina is also facing fires that have consumed thousands of hectares of forest in recent weeks, as southern Patagonia goes through a period of hot, dry weather.
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