Multiple forest fires spark emergency evacuations across Chile's Biobio and Nuble regions

Authorities in Chile’s Biobio and Nuble regions order multiple preventive evacuations as crews battle several active forest fires, urging residents to follow official guidance.

Reuters

18 January 2026 at 09:16:22

Multiple forest fires spark emergency evacuations across Chile's Biobio and Nuble regions

Fire and smoke rise from a forest fire in the Biobio region, where multiple wildfires prompted emergency evacuations, according to local media, in Concepcion, Chile, January 17, 2026.

Pablo Hidalgo/Reuters

Chile's National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (Senapred) ordered multiple evacuations on Saturday (January 17) as forest fires threatened communities across the southern Biobio and Nuble regions, deploying emergency alert messages to mobile phones in affected areas.

Nuble Regional Director of CONAF, Norma Perez, said crews were battling the fires with all available resources while also responding to 10 additional active fires across the region.

Senapred emphasized that the evacuations were preventive measures and urged residents not to return until authorities provided authorization, calling on the public to follow official channels and cooperate with emergency teams.

Production: Carolina Fernandez, Hugo Monnet/Reuters