According to a report by the National Forestry Corporation, 18 fires are currently in combat in both regions.

One of the places most affected by the fires was the commune of Traiguen, where eight houses and an educational establishment are reported to have been devoured by the flames.

In this town of La Araucania, two police officers were injured and had to be taken to hospital.

During the last few hours, a fire outbreak in the limits of the communes of Los Sauces and Lumaco led the authorities to order the evacuation of 27 families and to decree a red alert.

The emergency forced the suspension of classes in 44 schools, affecting more than 6,600 students throughout the central-south zone.

According to the meteorologists, the fire is being enhanced by the Puelche wind, a word which in the Mapudungun language means ‘people of the east’, due to the direction in which it is blowing.

These are gusts that come from the Argentine pampas, reach the Andes mountain range and descend to the Chilean valleys, where the air heats up as it descends.

ef/abo/lam/car