Chile issues red alert over forest fire

Source:Xinhua Published: 2020/1/26 13:56:56

Workers of the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources fight a fire in Manicore, the state of Amazonas, Brazil on Aug. 26, 2019. (Gabriela Biro/Agencia Estado/Handout via Xinhua)


Local authorities of Chile's southern region of Biobio issued a red alert on Saturday, after a forest fire burned 2.1 square km of vegetation.

The fire zone also includes 0.05 square km of the Nonguen National Reserve in Concepcion province, a habitat for some endangered species.

Noting that the fire broke out on Friday in Chiguayante area, Concepcion Governor Robert Contreras said "the work is continuous; from the first hours of the morning, aircraft are working carrying water. We are also monitoring the situation and evaluating it so we can determine the damage that is being produced."

The local government has received no reports of victims and has already evacuated some personnel, including two nursing homes, he added.

Local authorities are also concerned about high temperature that increases the risk of wildfire in the country's central and southern regions.

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