Jan 11, 2026, 9:11 p.mJan 11, 2026, 9:11 p.m
Firefighters in El Hoyo, Argentina, Patagonia.Image: keystone
Forest fires in Patagonia have destroyed almost 15,000 hectares of land since Monday. Hundreds of firefighters and volunteers continued to work on Sunday to contain the flames.
The fires broke out on Monday in the seaside resort of Puerto Patriada (Chubut province), about 1,700 kilometers south of Buenos Aires. The main fire near Epuyén in Chubut province has already destroyed almost 12,000 hectares, according to a statement from the provincial fire department on Sunday.
According to the governor, almost 3,000 tourists in Puerto Patriada and 15 families from Epuyén had to be evacuated from the province. More than ten houses were destroyed by the flames. The situation calmed down somewhat on Sunday, but remained “very critical”.
Another major source of fire affects the Los Alerces National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The affected area was not specified by the authorities. Los Alerces Park covers around 200,000 hectares.
In addition, emergency services are trying to contain two other fires in Chubut and Santa Cruz, which have already destroyed almost 3,800 hectares in recent days, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. (sda/afp)