Wildfire outbreak in Argentina: 3 thousand tourists evacuated, 15 thousand hectares burned.

According to ТСН: Massive wildfires continue in the southern regions of Argentina, leading to the evacuation of around three thousand tourists during the tourist season. The fire has already destroyed over 15 thousand hectares of land.

Affected Regions

The provinces of Chubut, Río Negro, and Santa Cruz have been the most affected. Fires have been detected in the areas of Puerto Patriada, Epuyén, El Oyo, El Bolsón, as well as in the Los Alerces National Park. The region has been battling the flames for over a week now.

Situation in the Region

The governor of Chubut province, Ignacio Torres, described the situation as one of the most serious environmental crises in the region's history. He noted that wildfires in Patagonia occur every year, but currently, they are spreading faster and are harder to control due to the 'strongest drought since 1965.'

Firefighting Efforts

More than 500 firefighters and police are involved in extinguishing the fires, and aviation is also at work. It is known that one of the rescuers sustained serious burns and was hospitalized.

Possible Causes of the Fires

The official causes of the fires have not yet been established. However, Governor Torres reported possible signs of arson and announced a reward of 50 million pesos (approximately 29 thousand euros) for information that could help find those responsible.

Meanwhile, news of large fires is also coming from other regions. In particular, significant smoke was observed over Shevchenko Square in Kyiv due to a fire at a market, which has also raised concerns among residents.