Chile is facing another deadly wildfire emergency after President Gabriel Boric declared a “state of catastrophe” in two southern regions where fires have already killed at least 18 people and forced massive evacuations.

The hardest-hit areas are the Ñuble and Biobío regions, located about 500 km south of Santiago, where more than 50,000 residents have been forced to flee their homes as flames spread quickly through dry forests. Boric warned that the death toll is expected to rise as crews continue searching affected areas and battling fires.

One of the most dangerous blazes has ripped through forests near the coastal city of Concepción, destroying roughly 250 homes and leaving haunting scenes of burned-out neighborhoods — including charred vehicles in the streets.

Chile’s forestry agency CONAF said firefighters were battling 24 fires across the country on Sunday, with the most threatening still concentrated in Ñuble and Biobío. Officials say roughly 8,500 hectares (21,000 acres) have already burned in those two regions alone.

The emergency has been intensified by strong winds and extreme summer temperatures, which are fueling the flames and making containment more difficult. Much of Chile remains under heat alerts, with temperatures expected to climb to 38°C in the coming days in areas between Santiago and Biobío.

The situation highlights Chile’s growing vulnerability to wildfire disasters, worsened by long-term drought. The country has experienced repeated tragedies in recent years — including the devastating fires near Valparaíso two years ago that killed more than 120 people.