Chile's president orders curfews as part of state of emergency decree in regions hit by wildfires

The sun sets in Santiago, Chile, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, as a forest fires burns on the outskirts of the capital. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix) (Esteban Felix/AP)

SANTIAGO, CHILE — Chile’s President Gabriel Boric on Saturday issued state of emergency decrees for two regions in the center and south of the country due to the threat of raging wildfires.

He said the measures for Nuble and Maule, which are aimed at saving forests, fields, homes and human life, would include curfews to allow the authorities to tackle possible criminal acts.

Speaking at a press conference at the presidential palace, Boric said he has “reasons to believe that a large part of the fires that affect the Araucanía area today (south of capital Santiago) are deliberate.”

“We are not going to tolerate the vile behavour of a person or organization that carries out these types of acts,” said Boric.

Local authorities say there are about 15 active fire outbreaks in Chile currently, which have been aggravated by weather temperatures above 40 Celsius degrees (104 Fahrenheit).

More than 60 arrests have been made recently in connection with forest fires in the Araucanía area, according to local authorities.

Dozens of people were killed last year and over 1,000 homes were destroyed due to forest fires in the Valparaiso region.