At least 131 people have been killed in forest fires in Chile. The worst tragedy in the South American country since the 2010 earthquake.
Investigations to understand how it became Chile's biggest tragedy since 2010 earthquake are ongoing. The main trigger of deforestation in Chile is forest plantations, especially in the central area of the country. Chile is expected to suffer an increase in temperatures combined with water stress. Estimates indicate that average rainfall is 20% less than in past years. The largest fire recorded at surface level in Chile was in 2017, when the fire devastated some 570,000 hectares.