Climate Change Fuels Wildfires in Argentina and Chile
Climate Change Fuels Wildfires in Argentina and Chile
US · Published Feb 12, 2026
Climate change significantly increased the likelihood of hot, dry, and windy conditions that fueled wildfires in Chile and Argentina.
Wildfires in Chile's Biobio and Ñuble regions caused 23 deaths and destroyed over 1,000 buildings.
Lightning-ignited fires in Argentina burned 174 square miles of native forest, including Los Alerces National Park.
Climate change fuels Chile, Argentina wildfires
A recent study by World Weather Attribution found that human-induced climate change has exacerbated recent wildfires in Chile and Argentina's Patagonia region. The research indicates that hot, dry, and windy conditions that fueled the fires were significantly more likely due to greenhouse gas emissions. In Chile, the probability of such conditions was increased by 200%, while in Argentina, the likelihood was 150% higher.
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