Record wildfires hit Venezuela during climate-driven Amazon drought
Sao Paulo/Maracay, Venezuela Reuters Venezuela is battling a record number of wildfires, according to data released on Monday, as a climate change-driven drought plagues the Amazon rainforest region. Satellites registered more than 30,200 fire points in Venezuela from January to March, the highest level for that period since records started in 1999, according to Brazil’s […]
Spring came early: February likely warmest on record amid climate change
Reuters The world likely notched its warmest February on record, as spring-like conditions caused flowers to bloom early from Japan to Mexico, left ski slopes bald of snow in Europe and pushed temperatures to 37.7 degrees Celsius in Texas. While data has not been finalised, three scientists told Reuters that February is on track to […]
Chile risks repeat of deadly wildfires because of climate change, report says
Santiago, Chile Reuters Deadly wildfires like those that burned through central Chile and killed at least 133 people this month will become more likely in the South American country as climate change makes the world hotter and drier, according to a report released on Thursday. The fires were Chile’s deadliest natural disaster since a 2010 […]
Community project saves homes from Chile wildfires
Vina del Mar, Chile Reuters Scorched earth surrounds the 70 houses of the Villa Botania neighbourhood, on the outskirts of Chile’s coastal town of Vina del Mar. Wildfires earlier this month that swept through parts of Vina del Mar and Valparaiso killed at least 132 people, marking the South American nation’s worst disaster since 2010. […]
Chileans search rubble for wildfire victims as death toll rises to 131
Valparaiso, Chile Reuters Lower temperatures on Tuesday brought relief to central Chile where firefighters tried to extinguish the remnants of wildfires that have killed at least 131 people in recent days, while families combed the rubble in a search for missing relatives. Only 35 victims have been identified and hundreds remain missing because of the […]
Chilean vet helps dogs, cats and rabbits injured in wildfires
Vina del Mar, Chile Reuters Among the mountains of debris left over from raging wildfires that have killed more than 120 people in Chile are lost dogs and cats, wandering the streets covered in ash and burns. Some whine behind gates where houses used to be, others stick to new people they have found, and […]
Chile firefighters pull bodies from rubble as blaze death toll hits 122
Vina del Mar, Chile Reuters The death toll from wildfires raging across central Chile hit 122 on Monday as helicopters dumped tons of water on blazes and emergency crews told Reuters they were still finding bodies buried in the wreckage three days after the fires took hold. The toll from Chile’s worst natural disaster in […]
Updated: Forest fires kill 51 in Chile, menace urban areas
Updated: 4:30pm (AEDT) Reuters Forest fires raging in central Chile have killed at least 51 people and the death toll is likely to keep climbing, authorities said on Saturday, as emergency services battled to snuff out flames threatening urban areas. Black smoke billowed into the sky over many parts of the Valparaiso region, home to […]
Chile President laments “tragedy” as wildfires kill 64; toll seen rising
Reuters Fires devastating parts of central Chile have killed at least 64 people and the country faces a “tragedy of very great magnitude,” President Gabriel Boric said on Sunday, as he warned that the death toll likely will surge in coming days. Wildfires that began several days ago are menacing the outer edges of Viña […]
Colombia human rights ombudsman urges action to prevent fires
Bogota. Colombia Reuters Colombia’s human rights ombudsman on Friday urged local authorities of high-risk areas for wildfires to take preventative action, while the environment minister warned the Andean country faced new climate dangers. Earlier this week, the government of leftist President Gustavo Petro said it will declare a natural disaster to free up resources for […]