Wildfires

Wildfires - Chile

The government of Chile on Friday requested international help to douse 63 wildfires that have already razed 4,981 hectares (12,310 acres).

Guillermo Maza, acting director of the National Emergencies Bureau, or Onemi, told reporters the government has requested assistance from neighboring Argentina to battle the fires.

Chile has also contacted Brazil to obtain additional help should it become necessary, the official said.

Sixteen of the 63 wildfires raging in four of Chile's regions are expanding, according to Onemi.

The situation is most serious in the southern region of Bio Bio, where three active wildfires have burned more than 3,000 hectares (7,400 acres), though those blazes no longer threaten populated areas, Maza said.