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Chile foresees 'difficult' wildfire season ahead, fears more arson

Source(s): Thomson Reuters
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By Natalia A. Ramos Miranda

Chile faces a “very difficult” season of wildfires because of high temperatures, a persistent drought and an increase in arson, Agriculture Minister Antonio Walker said on Tuesday, adding to the woes of a country damaged by violent socio-economic protests in the past month.

[…]

Already since July 2019, 6,800 hectares have been affected by wildfires, CONAF figures show, more than half around Valparaíso where some residents have had to evacuate their homes. In the period July 2018 to June 2019, a total of 1,646 hectares were burned.

[…]

The Chilean government and the private sector have started a $154 million fire prevention and control plan that provides for some 6,000 firefighters and 100 aircraft.

[…]

A Greenpeace spokesman, Mauricio Ceballos, said the wildfires highlighted how vulnerable Chile was to climate change. Chile was to host the COP25 United Nations climate change summit in December but was forced to cancel because of the protests and Madrid is hosting instead.

[…]

 

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Hazards Wildfire
Themes Fragility and conflict Governance
Country and region Chile
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