حرائق الغابات تدمر أكثر من 15 ألف هكتار من الأراضي في الأرجنتين

Wildfires in the Patagonia region of Argentina have destroyed more than 15,000 hectares of land, amid efforts by firefighters and volunteers to contain the flames that have been raging since last Monday.

The firefighting department in Chubut province, Argentina, stated in a report yesterday that the fires have consumed about 12,000 hectares of land in Chubut province near the town of Epuyén, located between a glacial lake and forested hills.

It added that the fire broke out last Monday in Puerto Patriada, located about 1,700 kilometers southwest of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, in the Patagonia region.

For his part, Ignacio Torres, the governor of Chubut province, confirmed that around 3,000 tourists and 15 families from the town of Epuyén have been evacuated, while the flames have destroyed more than 10 homes. Ignacio Torres stated in press remarks that the situation in the area has become calmer, but it is "still very critical."

For its part, the Federal Emergency Agency in Argentina reported that a large fire has ignited in Los Alerces National Park, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

It noted that firefighting teams are working to contain two other fires in Chubut and Santa Cruz, which have destroyed about 3,800 hectares of land in recent days.

Los Alerces National Park covers an area of approximately 200,000 hectares and features stunning landscapes, including glacial basins, chains of clear ponds and lakes, hanging valleys, and rock formations.