Fires in Chile

Wildfires in Chile

5 January 2012



This image depicted by the MODIS instrument on Terra shows fire signatures (Upper left) and volcanic smoke plume in Chile on 5 January 2012.
Source: NASA satellite image repository (selected and interpreted by GFMC).


This image depicted by the MODIS instrument on Aqua shows fires continuing to burn in Bio-Bio region, Chile, on 5 January 2012.
Today six firefighters have been killed by the wildfires. Source: NASA satellite image repository (selected and interpreted by GFMC).

Note by GFMC:

On Tuesday 29 December 2011 a wildfire started to spread inside the Torres del Paine National Park, Chile. GFMC monitored the situation through local focal points and media news. Satellite images were not available for the South Patagonian region of Chile due to permanent cloud cover. In the region of Bio-Bio the satellite image of the wildfires burning in native vegetation and forest plantations near Concepción have been captured on 2 January 2012 (image displayed above). The following links to reports by the local and international media provide the development of the wildfire situation until 5 January 2012, including the reports on fatalities on 5 January 2012. Access to the GFMC internal database will be provide to GFMC partners on request.

The wildfires burning in Chile and neighbouring Argentina are fuelled by the current drought and social conflicts. Please see also this essay:

    – Glaciers go, leaving drought, conflict and tension in Andes

See also Chile Update of 2 January 2012.

Detailed news from the Media:


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