Firefighters battle flames spreading through a forested area near Concepcion, Chile, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)
Wildfires raging across central and southern Chile on Sunday left several people dead, scorched thousands of acres of forest and destroyed scores of homes, authorities said.
The South American country is sweltering under a heat wave.
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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Houses damaged by wildfires sit near Lirquen, Chile, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Juan Garrido poses for a portrait while cleaning up debris at his home that was destroyed by wildfires in Lirquen, Chile, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)People salvage belongings from their homes that were damaged by wildfires in Lirquen, Chile, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Mirtza Aguilera, right, and her daughter embrace in front of their home burned by wildfires in Tome, Chile, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Buildings lie damaged by wildfires near Lirquen, Chile, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Veterinarian Angiella Scalpello tends to a cat named Lunar in a mobile veterinary clinic run by the Chilean Investigative Police in an area damaged by wildfires, in Lirquen, Chile, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Residential areas burned by wildfires stretch across Tome, Chile, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)A member of the Gonzalez family pets his dog after the family’s home caught fire during wildfires in Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Damaged vehicles line a road after wildfires swept through residential areas in Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Members of the Gonzalez family sit on a sidewalk after their home caught fire during wildfires near Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Police recover the bodies of people who died after wildfires swept through homes near Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)A woman holds a cat rescued after wildfires swept through homes near Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Burned desks sit inside a school after wildfires swept through Punta de Parra, Chile, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)A dog burned by wildfires stands in Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Wildfires burn at sunrise near Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Reimundo Neira sits inside a vehicle, damaged by fire, after his home burned down in Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Residents stand by houses burned by wildfires in Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)A man leads his horse past homes burned by wildfires near Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)A helicopter drops water to battle wildfires near Concepcion, Chile, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)A woman sits on what remains of her home after it burned in wildfires in Punta de Parra, Chile, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Firefighters battle a blaze at a house as wildfires burn in Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Damaged vehicles line a road after wildfires swept through residential areas in Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)A Chilean flag is covered by the Spanish message: “Punta Arenas rises” at a home destroyed by wildfires in Tome, Chile, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Wildfires blaze near Concepcion, Chile, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)
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