Climate change has fuelled the growth of explosive wildfires across the globe with rising temperatures and drought.
Wildfires in the South American nation of Chile have killed an estimated seven people as blazes tear across wide swathes of forests and farmland, incinerating homes.
As of Friday, authorities were struggling to contain the many wildfires that had erupted, burning through more than 14,000 hectares (34,595 acres) of land across the country. The fires have been exacerbated by a nearly 13-year-long drought in the country, as well as a heat wave.
Many of the fires are concentrated in the Biobío region, located about 560 kilometres (348 miles) south of the capital city of Santiago. Four of the deaths reported so far have taken place there and many of the deaths involved vehicles.
“In one case, they were burned because they were hit by the fire,” interior minister Carolina Toha said. In the other case, she added, they suffered an accident while “probably trying to escape the fire”.
The Associated Press also reported that a firefighter was hit by a truck while fighting the flames.
